By A.L. Childers
In an era where artificial intelligence is replacing jobs, corporations are monopolizing basic human needs, and the cost of living has spiraled beyond reason, the question many men are still asking women is, “What do you bring to the table?”
But let’s be real—what table?
In a world where homeownership is unattainable, wages stagnate while inflation skyrockets and even our food is poisoned for profit, the idea of a “table” is laughable. We don’t have a table anymore. None of us do. And if we did, where exactly would we put it?
A World Where The Table No Longer Exists
The traditional markers of stability—homeownership, fair wages, access to real food, and reliable healthcare—are slipping further out of reach. The average home price in 2000 was around $119,600. Today, the median home price in the U.S. exceeds $400,000, with houses in major cities reaching $750,000+—a 525% increase in just two decades. Interest rates are at their highest in years, making homeownership a pipe dream for most.
And renting? Hedge funds and private equity firms like BlackRock and Invitation Homes have purchased entire neighborhoods, turning potential homeownership into a renter’s prison, jacking up prices by as much as 60% in some cities. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, once $1,000, is now $3,000 or more, pricing out working-class Americans.
So, tell me again: what table?
A Livable Wage? Not in This Economy.
The federal minimum wage in America remains a staggering $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009. Meanwhile, the cost of living has risen nearly 40% in the last decade, with wages failing to keep pace. Over 61% of Americans now live paycheck to paycheck, with many working two or three jobs just to afford basic necessities.
Even in fields with “livable” wages, the squeeze is real. Nurses, teachers, and service workers—once considered middle-class careers—are now struggling to afford homes in the cities they work in. In San Francisco, you need a salary of at least $104,000 just to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. In New York City, that number jumps to $130,000.
Again, where is this table going?
Poison for Profit: The Food We Can’t Afford is Killing Us
Let’s talk about what actually goes on this imaginary table.
The American food supply is so toxic that many ingredients legally sold in the U.S. are banned in over 30 countries. Red dye No. 3, brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate—these are carcinogens illegal in the EU, China, and Japan but are still FDA-approved in the U.S. because food corporations lobby Congress to keep them in circulation.
Fast food, ultra-processed junk, and chemical-laden groceries aren’t just making us overweight—they’re making us sick. Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer rates have skyrocketed, largely due to the food industry prioritizing profit over public health. The U.S. now leads the world in diet-related illnesses, and even when people want to eat healthy, organic options remain financially out of reach for most.
Healthcare: Pay or Die
Let’s say we make it to the table despite the poisoned food, the unaffordable housing, and the soul-crushing work conditions. What happens when we get sick?
America’s healthcare system is the most expensive in the world, yet ranks dead last among high-income nations in accessibility and outcomes. The U.S. spends over $12,500 per person on healthcare annually, yet 66% of all bankruptcies are due to medical debt. A simple ambulance ride can cost $1,200—more than a mortgage payment.
And if we’re really lucky, we can sit at the table and reminisce about the family members we lost too soon because they couldn’t afford treatment. We can raise a glass to the 53-year-old mothers who died of heart disease, not because of genetics, but because they were fed toxic food, overworked, and denied proper medical care.
The Education System: Preparing Kids for a Broken Future
While we’re at this nonexistent table, maybe we can talk to our kids about their education—if they survive school.
With mass shootings now a regular occurrence, students aren’t just learning math; they’re learning how to barricade doors and hide under desks. Speaking of math, let’s talk about Common Core—an education model so convoluted that parents can’t even help their kids with homework. Instead of fostering critical thinking, American schools are training kids to memorize and regurgitate, leaving them ill-prepared for the future in an economy where AI and automation are rapidly replacing jobs.
But sure, let’s discuss gender roles. Let’s focus on whether women should cook and clean while we all collectively drown in a system that requires two incomes just to survive.
The Real Question: What Do You Bring to the Revolution?
So, let’s stop asking what women bring to the table.
Let’s start asking: What do you bring to the revolution?
Because this isn’t about gender roles anymore. This is survival. The world we inherited is no longer the world we were promised. The American Dream has been turned into a rigged casino, where the house always wins and the players—us—are left empty-handed.
The real question isn’t about what we contribute individually—it’s about what we are going to do collectively to reclaim our future.
Because the table is gone.
And if we want one, we’ll have to build it ourselves.
Sources & Statistics:
- Housing Crisis: National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve, Zillow Reports
- Minimum Wage & Inflation: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pew Research Center
- Food Safety & Toxic Ingredients: U.S. FDA, European Food Safety Authority, Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Healthcare Crisis: The Commonwealth Fund, Kaiser Family Foundation, American Journal of Public Health
- Education & School Safety: National Center for Education Statistics, FBI Crime Report
