Wow! A wonderfully bibliographed text which will assist any thesis, essay, term paper or legal presentation on the subject of women's unpaid service and poverty. This poignant, exceptionally well-written and throughly documented book is a must for many audiences:1) anyone who is preparing for divorce (despite what the income or attorney promises,2) children of divorce who want to know why the once vibrant mom can't seem to get back on top financially,3) for anyone with disabled children, 4) for any men who view women and children as people, and for any legislator/senator or policy maker/agency manager who still has a conscious, some backbone and believes that when good men are silent wickedness prospers.4) This is must reading for students of sociology, psychology, women's studies, government and policy. We are in 2001 yet millions of our own women and children are living in conditions similar to those of poverty in Charles Dicken's time. This tragic, hidden, American secret is silenced with the anti-welfare propaganda. There are many women and children who fall from prosperity to poverty despite all attempts to "pull up their bootstraps, keep their nose clean," and frugal living. For me this was a book which validated the nightmare I've lived falling from apx $300,000 annually to homelessness-even thoughy the court ordered the Doctor otherwise. This was a sanity break, as document after document verified this typical sturalization of poverty for women. It depersonalized the experience and gave me the extra boost to complete my education to fly over poverty coop to hope and resiliance. 5) This is a very valuable book for any friend recovering from economic disaster and emotional devastation of children as a result. High risk children are produced by patriarchal protection and inequality in legal representation. The greatest gift we can give our children is to respect their mother by valuing her unpaid labor and insuring food, shelter, health insurance, electricity are provided for those who give nurturing service to the nations greatest treasure- healthy, safe, confident,educated,children with compassion to make a positive difference. A most wonderful book! A tribute to all who care for the aged, work with spouses, bear and serve children. Great reading.