Fast forward 20-30-40+ years. Fundie unmarried daughters...

[Justme]

What happens to someone like Sarah Maxwell or other fundie SAHD's? They'll never had had a job, thus will never be eligible to collect social security. (At least those that marry can collect under their husbands.) Will they be eligible to collect medicade as they'll have never paid into the fund? If they are lucky, a brother will take them in. Will said brother be able to provide the high cost of medical care for an "elderly" sister? Maybe many of these women will die younger due to cancer and other illness that could have been detected my regular gyno exams, mamagrams, etc. (I just can't see these virgins getting their boobs squashed, etc.) :(

[keen23]

They don't worry that far in the future, because you know, the Rapture is coming, and they'll be transported to Heaven or Space or wherever your supposed to go when you are Raptured.

[heinz57]

My guess is, they'll move in with the brother and become a slave. With a little berth in the laundry room.

[bananacat]

The eldest brother would be expected to take them in, but when the Patriarch is dead, there will be no one to force him to do it. For those that are members of a church that is larger than just their immediate family, they could try to mooch off the church, and they might be encouraged to marry a widower, although women outnumber men at higher ages so I don't see that working out on a large scale unless they embrace polygyny.

They haven't really thought this through completely, because even contemplating this type of thing is considered a sign that they don't trust God enough. They're expected to just repeat over and over "God will provide. God will provide." and then hope for the best.

[darkplumaged]

I really don't know--this is one of the great fundie mysteries I wish we could solve.

I can imagine Sarah Maxwell, if she never marries, moving in with a sibling to help care for the sibling's youngest children. (I'm imagining this scenario playing out in 20+ years, not anytime soon.) But I can't wrap my mind around the idea that Sarah, or another single, middle-aged fundie daughter, would still be considered in need of protection, or that she could accept never, ever having a home of her own.

[Witsec7]

I really don't know--this is one of the great fundie mysteries I wish we could solve.

I can imagine Sarah Maxwell, if she never marries, moving in with a sibling to help care for the sibling's youngest children. (I'm imagining this scenario playing out in 20+ years, not anytime soon.) But I can't wrap my mind around the idea that Sarah, or another single, middle-aged fundie daughter, would still be considered in need of protection, or that she could accept never, ever having a home of her own.

In twenty years some of Sarah's nieces and nephews will be old enough to care for her.

The financial burdens will increase if the siblings are still supporting their own unmarried spawn at home. This scenario is highly unsustainable for the next two generations.

[Deleted07]

Yeah they need a HUGE reality check for sure.

This whole God will provide BS just irks me... Remember that saying, "God helps those who help themselves"... You can't just sit back reading your Bible and pray for guidance, you need some self initiative... Really dumbfounds me that people can live like that.

[theologygeek]

This is what happens. http://www.freejinger.org/viewtopic.php ... 19#p172919 I try to push it out of my mind, but it creeps back every now and then. And I get tears in my eyes.

[Daenerys]

Reminds me very much of this post on One Bright Corner [onebrightcorner.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/four-sisters-on-road-trip-learning.html]

It was a 'Becoming Beautiful' conference which I think is VF affiliated and they were encouraged to pray for their future and accept their 'fate' to be married or single, but the session was presented only by a married couple! They say that singleness is ok and yet idealise marriage and don't present any viable older single women. It's stupid.

Ruth and her husband Chris shared a session on their courtship. It was very inspiring, and they challenged us to pray, "Lord, whether you call me to a life of marriage or singleness, I already accept." Another prayer: "Lord, I will not marry someone unless I can serve You better with him than without him." Powerful!

[pixydust]

This is what happens. http://www.freejinger.org/viewtopic.php ... 19#p172919 I try to push it out of my mind, but it creeps back every now and then. And I get tears in my eyes.

God, I'm so sorry. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if that happens quite a lot in the next 5-20 years in fundie-dom.

[justlurking]

What happens to someone like Sarah Maxwell or other fundie SAHD's? They'll never had had a job, thus will never be eligible to collect social security. (At least those that marry can collect under their husbands.) Will they be eligible to collect medicade as they'll have never paid into the fund? If they are lucky, a brother will take them in. Will said brother be able to provide the high cost of medical care for an "elderly" sister? Maybe many of these women will die younger due to cancer and other illness that could have been detected my regular gyno exams, mamagrams, etc. (I just can't see these virgins getting their boobs squashed, etc.) :(

They should be able to collect Medicaid, but that would entail that they apply for EVIL, socialist, welfare. I'm sure they'd much rather starve. Medicare is available to people who have work history and have contributed payroll deductions to SSI.

[FloraDoraDolly]

I can't imagine what anyone's life will be like in 20, 30, or 40 years, not even my own. The world has changed so much. Who knows if there will even be such a thing as Social Security then? It wouldn't surprise me if there isn't.

[lilwriter85]

I remember the other thread. Sarah Maxwell is the one fundie SAHD that I worry about quite a bit. I don't think she has a penny to her name right now. I get the strong feeling that she isn't getting any money from the Moody books. I think Steve is grooming either Nathan or Christopher take over the ministry. I think if Nathan takes over, Sarah will be shoved out of some of the operations. Something about Nathan doesn't sit well with me. If Christopher takes over, I can see him helping Sarah out by paying her wages. If the ministry and businesses end up failing before or after Steve dies, Sarah will be in for a rude awakening. I could see some church possibly hiring Sarah with some kind of job, if she a 40 something year old woman with no outside work experience.

[Witsec7]

Steve claims Sarah has a nest egg. I doubt she has control over any monies she has earned.

[Justme]

They should be able to collect Medicaid, but that would entail that they apply for EVIL, socialist, welfare. I'm sure they'd much rather starve. Medicare is available to people who have work history and have contributed payroll deductions to SSI.

As a SAHD, they will have no work history.

[desertvixen]

I think one of the brothers would take Sarah Maxwell in, but I wonder if they would ever let her forget her "poor relation" status.

[Sister Mozz]

This is what happens. http://www.freejinger.org/viewtopic.php ... 19#p172919 I try to push it out of my mind, but it creeps back every now and then. And I get tears in my eyes.

Oh my. I... I don't even know what to say. What a haunting story! I can see why it makes you cry.

[browngrl]

I have no idea how poor Sarah et al will do. However I did have a patient (many years ago when I was a family doctor) who was in a similar situation. She was part of a fundamentalist religion and lived at home with her parents her whole life. I knew that her parents had left her their house and a small inheritance in their will but I had no idea if she had enough money to live on or if she could even cope after so many years of being sheltered at home. I actually set her up with some meetings with our clinic social worker just to give her some support. I should not have worried. She just blossomed once she ditched the SAHD-hood. She sold the house for a crazy profit. She got a job at a fast food restaurant (that she loved). She ditched the fundamentalism and started dating and socializing. One day she came in and just announced that she "wanted to have sex". I said "great, just be sure to use a condom". However she had a number of concerns - mainly centring on the mechanics of the whole thing and pain. "I don't want any pain" she said. We had a good discussion and I sent her on her way with the promise that she would come back and let me know how it all went. A week later she came back and said "why the hell, did I wait so long?" Suffice to say, she made up for the whole purity thing after that.

[YPestis]

I speculate the unmarried daughters will move in with brothers or nephews....maybe sisters if the husbands allow it. The sad part is these women will never have their own home, never have their own children. They will spend the rest of their lives living under another woman's "jurisdiction". As for medicaid, they can apply for it once they show no income but that goes against their belief. I don't think they qualify for medicare because they have never paid into it nor married to anyone who did.

The SAHD are the saddest part of the fundie/patriarchy system. This was a system set up back in the days when women had limited economic prospects and required a man to provide for them. Our current economic system, while still set up with the male-breadwinner ideal, no longer sees women as helpless and expects them to care for themselves to a certain extent. The result is a group of women who have acquired a learned helplessness in a world where they are expected to fend for themselves. Talk about a fish out of water.

[pixydust]

I have no idea how poor Sarah et al will do. However I did have a patient (many years ago when I was a family doctor) who was in a similar situation. She was part of a fundamentalist religion and lived at home with her parents her whole life. I knew that her parents had left her their house and a small inheritance in their will but I had no idea if she had enough money to live on or if she could even cope after so many years of being sheltered at home. I actually set her up with some meetings with our clinic social worker just to give her some support. I should not have worried. She just blossomed once she ditched the SAHD-hood. She sold the house for a crazy profit. She got a job at a fast food restaurant (that she loved). She ditched the fundamentalism and started dating and socializing. One day she came in and just announced that she "wanted to have sex". I said "great, just be sure to use a condom". However she had a number of concerns - mainly centring on the mechanics of the whole thing and pain. "I don't want any pain" she said. We had a good discussion and I sent her on her way with the promise that she would come back and let me know how it all went. A week later she came back and said "why the hell, did I wait so long?" Suffice to say, she made up for the whole purity thing after that.

Your story gives me hope that someday, somehow, some of these girls and women will be happy!

[fundiefan]

Sarah will be writing the 50th revision of the Moody books, taking care of Abby, Bethany & Christina's kids, and delighting in the blessings of the LORD.

[FlorenceHamilton]

I have no idea how poor Sarah et al will do. However I did have a patient (many years ago when I was a family doctor) who was in a similar situation. She was part of a fundamentalist religion and lived at home with her parents her whole life. I knew that her parents had left her their house and a small inheritance in their will but I had no idea if she had enough money to live on or if she could even cope after so many years of being sheltered at home. I actually set her up with some meetings with our clinic social worker just to give her some support. I should not have worried. She just blossomed once she ditched the SAHD-hood. She sold the house for a crazy profit. She got a job at a fast food restaurant (that she loved). She ditched the fundamentalism and started dating and socializing. One day she came in and just announced that she "wanted to have sex". I said "great, just be sure to use a condom". However she had a number of concerns - mainly centring on the mechanics of the whole thing and pain. "I don't want any pain" she said. We had a good discussion and I sent her on her way with the promise that she would come back and let me know how it all went. A week later she came back and said "why the hell, did I wait so long?" Suffice to say, she made up for the whole purity thing after that.

I wish we had a "like" button.

[Anise]

I have no idea how poor Sarah et al will do. However I did have a patient (many years ago when I was a family doctor) who was in a similar situation. She was part of a fundamentalist religion and lived at home with her parents her whole life. I knew that her parents had left her their house and a small inheritance in their will but I had no idea if she had enough money to live on or if she could even cope after so many years of being sheltered at home. I actually set her up with some meetings with our clinic social worker just to give her some support. I should not have worried. She just blossomed once she ditched the SAHD-hood. She sold the house for a crazy profit. She got a job at a fast food restaurant (that she loved). She ditched the fundamentalism and started dating and socializing. One day she came in and just announced that she "wanted to have sex". I said "great, just be sure to use a condom". However she had a number of concerns - mainly centring on the mechanics of the whole thing and pain. "I don't want any pain" she said. We had a good discussion and I sent her on her way with the promise that she would come back and let me know how it all went. A week later she came back and said "why the hell, did I wait so long?" Suffice to say, she made up for the whole purity thing after that.

That is an awesome story.

I hope Sarah Maxwell and the Bodkin girls and all the rest of the SAHD have people in their lives who can provide emotional support and point to a new way of living.

[luckystone]

Wait, do you have to have worked for social security (unemployment?) and Medicaid? That means these people have no hope! I didn't realise it was like that.

Hopefully siblings will look after them but who knows...that is their duty but if they rebel once the parents dies it might not go like that. With the large families there would probably be someone to look after an unmarried SAHD, but they'd need to contribute somehow by helping out, which could be tough if they fall ill.

[gustava]

Wait, do you have to have worked for social security (unemployment?) and Medicaid? That means these people have no hope! I didn't realise it was like that.

Hopefully siblings will look after them but who knows...that is their duty but if they rebel once the parents dies it might not go like that. With the large families there would probably be someone to look after an unmarried SAHD, but they'd need to contribute somehow by helping out, which could be tough if they fall ill.

Yes on SS and Medicare. No on Medicaid.