You're watching...
FBN’s Lori Rothman talks with “The Richer Sex” author Liza Mundy and a family impacted by the difficult job market.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
American wants a shot at their own pace of the American dream a job I house up -- -- It doesn't seem like too much to asks so what happens to a family when that dream is lost.
When the breadwinner loses their job and it all comes crashing down.
Lori Rothman brings us one family's story.
-- -- -- Then he bought the beer applicable -- you -- you know.
I think at.
Least and Kevin Hurley has been married since 1986.
Both worked until they adopted their little girl -- in from South Korea in 1999.
Lisa decided to stay at home while Kevin continue to work for an insurance company is an underwriter and broker did you like doing that I dipped.
Very much -- Palestinian working with people.
Dealing with -- solving problems.
Kevin started working force companies age sixteen in the mail -- from there he worked his way up the -- for the next 36 years.
But in 2009 the recession hit.
Thank you know once they equally Lindsay you come into the office please into the room you -- right then and -- -- was gonna happen.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- How did you feel after you lost your job not being able to provide as much money for the family.
-- -- of your failure you know you're the one who's supposed to bring everything it is the way I grew up now.
Everybody's fault support house -- time to get up.
But now at least that was pushed into that breadwinner role and how quickly were you able to -- to employment I was already working.
Part time -- right.
So I really didn't have to worrying that much sixteen months later -- found another job and then.
He got laid off the second time -- that was completely devastating.
Devastating but not unique in the year 2009 unemployment for men hit an all time high of eleven point 2%.
Author Liza Mundy says stories like there's a comment she recently wrote a book to Richard Sachs which talks about today's new breed of breadwinners.
We could be looking at a society where among mothers.
A majority of mothers are supporting households.
When you look around you can see these -- I mean everybody.
An houses in the in -- circle of -- -- -- -- colleagues people they know.
Certainly the need the changes in the economy are becoming apparent everywhere.
Diligence and name him and sending.
Monday followed a group of housewives who -- in situations similar to leases to date to -- the bread winners of the family.
The government hasn't tables and when you look at the percentage of working wives -- -- their husbands you see that it's currently.
Almost 40%.
You know -- husband's I have to say to give them credit their husbands were helping out at -- The spices -- alcoholic.
For Reagan -- being mr.
mom means Kevin gets more time at home -- like cooking.
Cook on the weekends.
Now -- every -- currently right now I basically.
And get up in the morning and get ready for work and then he wakes -- -- We'll have a discussion about something and somebody in schools something like that if I was working it be like there are just now can we thought this would -- But he tries to handle a lot of situations my daughter now if we want something done -- I'll take the wire away from the Xbox.
So yesterday and she comes -- and an -- You clean your room -- white man she disclose.
That she's not there for that so I just take on the front of it and teenage drama.
Three years have passed and Kevin is still out of work.
It's very hard for me to see him you know not get any phone calls.
It's very hard it's -- -- wracking its.
It it -- done soul.
We get -- while.
-- paycheck doesn't make ends meet and -- empty Kevin's attention now they face losing their house.
How you cope with that kind of stress.
Not easily sometimes.
My daughter my husband went jokes and I and walk away because I don't find it funny.
I snap very easily at home.
We can't do anything.
And it's hard when you have kids.
You have to say no -- time.
It's a tough situation and -- they -- us that they're go 12 minutes.
When one again I'm not gonna get an answer.
But -- two people a moment ago.
And anyone else's so I gotta keep pushing have to.
