Babysitters and Apple Pie: Part of the American Fabric

I just came across this interview in the New Yorker of Miriam Forman-Brunell, the author of “Babysitter: An American History” which I thought you would all enjoy:

"The expansion of suburban communities, the influence of feminist ideals, and a rising divorce rate that drew more women into the formal economy also played a role. Unlike house cleaners, grandparents, and others who had historically provided childcare, teen-age girls became more readily available. While the rise of a commodity-based youth culture provided girls with a financial incentive to babysit, the expectation that, as females, girls are naturally maternal diminished parent-employers’ apprehensions about hiring teen-age girls."

Also, since I know we talked about the role of male babysitters in light of Lisa Belkin's comments, I thought this point was worth highlighting:

"I was surprised to learn of the number of boy babysitters before the nineteen-sixties, and that they were depicted as more competent, reliable, and responsible than girls at babysitting. From the Great Depression to the New Millennium, Henry Aldrich, Donald Duck, Archie Andrews, Tom & Jerry, Carl the Dog, and numerous other males who babysat on radio and TV shows, in cartoons, and in children’s books, were unfailingly portrayed as helpful heroes. As such, they bolstered the more unfavorable view of teen-age girls as irresponsible, irrational, and unreliable, despite the fact that, in reality, teen-age girls are the least likely to perpetrate crimes against children in their care."

Enjoy the rest of the article here!

Or go ahead and buy a copy of her book:
Babysitter: An American History