Nanny gender issues come with economic independence

Olga (not her real name) went to school in El Salvador for nine years, the closest thing to a high school degree. She has lived in California for 14 years and now wants to return to school, but her husband doesn’t support this. He is from Mexico and according to Olga, he does not believe education is important for her personally or professionally. He told her, “ My children need you. You cook, you clean, be there for them.” He doesn’t care about education and neither do his brothers. It was very different in Olga’s family.
"My sister is a grad student and another is an RN, a nurse. My brother works for the organization, Working for Food, and he’s a technician. We like education. I think it’s good to improve and make more money… I like taking my kids to the library, and to read at night. But my husband, he doesn’t do this. He doesn’t value education. I told him I can go to school at night, then I’ll make more money. No, he doesn’t want me out of the house. Machista! That’s what we call them (macho men from Mexico.)"
Olga proudly points out she makes as much as her husband working in a clothes factory. She enjoys economic equality but not equal rights within the home. She shook her head in frustration.