This week at the blog, we hosted a symposium on Max Eichner’s book, The Free Market Family.
Max Eichner began the proceedings by introducing the main thesis of her book.
Wendy Bach responded by praising Eichner’s project and her focus for universal programs, but offered some critical notes on the importance of attending to how universal programs interact with a racialized system of distribution and family policy.
Martha McCluskey examined the idea that support for families is infrastructure for a society of equals, drawing on historical lessons from the Black Panthers.
Julie Suk rounded out the discussion on a skeptical note. She asks: is the free market family really a matter of the rich imposing their will or is there something about how Americans understand the relationship of state to family that undergirds it?
