Women and Insurance

Some prospects say: “I will take it up to my wife”, which is very nice and appropriate, since a couple is supposed to be a team and they should both participate in decisions to balance things. However, it’s incredible that some women are opposed to purchasing insurance and prioritize other expenses, such as getting a newer car, shopping for new furniture, taking a trip or any other unnecessary thing. They should be the ones asking for insurance as a condition before getting married, based on the past.

- What past events do you mean? – I asked.

- In the past, when a couple got married, they agreed, or it was customary, that the man was the provider and builder of the family’s estate, and the women dedicated her time and participation tending to the home and children, to whom she provided the love, attention and education they required when they were little. She also handled the money her spouse provided. Let’s say that was her job. Unfortunately, this was an unpaid job, but that didn’t matter, since at that moment life was rosy, mostly because they thought that the marriage would last forever.

“Nowadays, divorce is frequent. The mother keeps the children and the husband keeps the estate. But when the ladies try to go back to work they realize that it’s not easy, since they have to go against younger, better prepared women with fewer needs. On the other hand, the ex husband’s opinion is that they decided this, as if the decision had been unilateral; the children are the most affected.

“Nowadays many people work away from their homes, and even if some do it as a pastime, others are the main providers in their homes. Besides, there are some cases in companies where, in the same preparation and intelligence circumstances, preference is given to men, especially in high executive positions. It’s evident that, with less preparation, opportunities for women would be even less.”

-          So, women need insurance too? – asked John

-          No doubt about that – I answered immediately – Don’t you know that Mom and I have our own?

-           Yes I know. And if a woman doesn’t work, does she need it too?

-          Let’s see – said Mom turning to look at Dad. Then she told us the following – I’ll tell you an anecdote.

“One time, during an alumni reunion, we were talking about the importance of each family member being insured. Mary, my childhood’s best friend, asked her husband why she didn’t have one, and he, in a conceited attitude, said: what do you need insurance for? All of our household’s income comes from me and you contribute to none of it. What you need to do is take care of me because as long as I live you will receive everything you need, upon my demise, you will receive a lot of money.

“Your father, upset about Josh’ attitude and lack recognition towards Mary’s labor at home and with their children, asked her: ‘Mary, why did you quit working when you got married?’ She answered: ‘I wanted to continue, but Jesus said that we could make a good living out of his salary.’ Jesus immediately intervened: ‘Well, her salary was low and I preferred that she stayed at home, and since we soon received the news that we were expecting Rodrigo, our first son, there was no point in her having a job, don’t you think?