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CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 7 

Book Review: Holding it Together: How Women Became 
America’s Safety Net by Jessica Calarco 

Abigail Whitenack 
Department of Anthropology 

California State University, Los Angeles 
 
How did women become America’s safety net? What confounding 
systems and ideologies placed women in this role? In Holding It 
Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net, Jessica 
Calarco, a professor of sociology specializing in families, schools, 
and inequalities, explores how U.S. women are placed in the 
position of “holding it all together” in the wake of a failed social 
safety net. She argues that a combination of systemic ideologies 
and policies placed this burden on women and examines its toll on 
their well-being, relationships, and communities. Calarco 
contends that this illusion of a “DIY society” does not reflect the 
reality of women’s lives. Rather, it masks the insecurities and 
strains within their families and communities. Society perpetuates 
the idea that the safety net is still intact by demanding that women 
fill this role. Many women are forced or pressured to be “the glue 
that holds it all together” (2024:12). Calarco highlights how the 
systems in place fail to acknowledge the emotional and physical 
toll that women experience by filling this role. This book stresses 
the need for a real safety net and reveals the truth behind the 
illusion that women should bear these burdens alone.  

Calarco examines the roles American women play in 
maintaining the social safety net. The social safety net allows 
society and the economy to survive. In the U.S., women form the 
bonds for the barren safety net. Women were forced to fill in for 
the U.S. safety net as the nation choose profits over national 
childcare, healthcare and supporting families who need it. She 
argues that women are key to upholding the illusion of a “DIY 
society,” a concept formed by the U.S. adoption of neoliberalism 
(2024: 12). After World War II, the United States shifted away 
from expanding its social safety net and instead broke down the 
net that was already in place. This shift marked the U.S. adoption 
of neoliberalism, reducing government support while allowing 
businesses and corporations to thrive. It was sold as a narrative 
that wealth would “trickle down” to the rest of society (2024: 10). 



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CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 7 

Pro-neoliberal propaganda fueled this narrative. Over time, 
politicians backed by corporate interests were elected and enacted 
policies that still dominate now. The “DIY society” suggests that 
individuals are expected to solve their problems, without relying 
on the government or employers for support. Individuals unable 
to navigate these challenges by themselves are often blamed or 
stigmatized. The illusion of this system rests solely on women. 
They are expected to bear the burden of being the social safety 
net. Turning a blind eye to the struggles and weight placed upon 
women by this system perpetuates the illusion that the DIY society 
works. 

This book is structured into two distinct parts. Each part 
addresses how women came to carry the responsibility of 
maintaining America’s social safety net and why it continues to 
persist. Calarco structures her points around interviews and 
follow-up interviews with women from Indiana from 2018-2022. 
While Indiana may not reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the 
broader U.S. population, Calarco ensures that the women she 
interviewed represent a variety of political standpoints and social 
class backgrounds. She incorporates national surveys and data 
from varying historical, political, and economic sources to 
strengthen her arguments in each chapter. The different layers of 
evidence are thoughtfully intertwined, providing personal and 
data-based insights into how women were placed into this role. 
She also uses socially constructed myths, prevalent in American 
culture, to expose the other forces that have defined women’s 
roles. Part one lays the foundation for understanding how women 
have been made to “hold it together,” filling the void left by a 
broken social safety net. Part two addresses why this issue has not 
been effectively rectified. Her argument focuses on a persistent 
“lack of will to change,” noting how adopted societal myths and 
conforming gender expectations prevent reform (2024: 190). The 
conclusion outlines steps for change, advocating for a “union of 
care” and establishing a formed and equitable social safety net 
(2024: 201).  

The research and conclusions drawn by Calarco in 
Holding It Together are both eye-opening and deeply compelling. 
It does more than explore this issue alone; the multitude of content 
builds upon itself, culminating in a powerful call for change. 



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Calarco shows that women shouldn’t continue to bear the burden 
of a failing safety net and uphold the illusion of the “DIY society.” 
Women may not have had a say in how they came to occupy this 
role, but now they have the agency to change it. The interviews 
were conducted exclusively in Indiana, which may not fully 
reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the broader 
U.S. population but this does not diminish the book’s impact. The 
voices of the women interviewed offer invaluable insights into the 
wider issues affecting women across the U.S. The addition of 
various data types and the use of socially constructed myths 
strengthens the book’s impact. A broader geographic range of 
interviews would have made the work even more representative, 
but the current body of work remains incredibly powerful. The 
strengths of this book lie in its ability to resonate on multiple 
levels, inspiring women to recognize their value and demand 
change that has been long ignored.  

Holding It Together is not just a body of research; it is an 
effective call to action. This book is not just for those in academia; 
it was written for women and those who care to make a difference. 
Calarco’s work is centered around interviews with women who 
find themselves burdened with upholding the safety net and 
perpetuating the illusion of the “DIY society.” Human experience 
is interwoven with data that forces the reader to feel the impact of 
these issues on a personal level. It is demonstrated that myths are 
shaped by American policy and culture which further reinforces 
the roles of women. The book challenges readers to explore the 
consequences of a flawed system that continues to exploit and 
hinder women. If we continue to follow the constructed path the 
burden and struggles that women face will persist. However, if this 
system is collectively challenged and care is reimagined change is 
possible. The purpose of this piece is to reflect on the failures of 
the past and inspire a more equitable future for women and those 
who care. 

 
REFERENCES 

Calarco, Jessica. 2024. Holding it Together: How Women Became America’s 
Safety Net. New York: Portfolio/Penguin.


	Book Review: Holding it Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net by Jessica Calarco - Abigail Whitenack