April 25, 2015
On April 17, 2015, California business and politics news publication Fox & Hounds ran and op-ed by Curtis Vandermolen of National Parents Organization titled “Parental Equality Post-Divorce Offers Solution to Gender Pay Inequality.”
His op-ed said, “Advocates state that women earn only 77 cents for each dollar earned by a man — an unfortunate reality that stems from research showing that one of biggest barriers to women completing higher education, obtaining employment and advancing within their careers is the lack of affordable childcare options. Our family courts could help turn this around by treating parents equally and encouraging meaningful and equal relationships between the child and both parents. When parenting is shared, women are enabled to participate more fully in the workforce. Custody schedules are arranged around both parents’ work schedules, maximizing the time that the child is with each parent and reducing the overall childcare costs. And since parents are sharing in the educational opportunities of their child, time off for school sickness and activities is also shared.”