TOW #10 - Childcare wages (Visual)

Although children are a universal touchstone for empathy and kindness, far too often their well-being is left to fall through the cracks. Common examples would include cuts to education funding and a school to prison pipeline across the U.S. An image released by the National Women's Law Center argues that child care providers should receive higher salaries using statistics and first person pronouns.

Such a battle is an admirable one, and, as such, the National Women's Law Center (NWLC) understands the need for unarguable evidence to support their claim. The statistic included in the image appeals to logos and provides objective justification to their argument. When a viewer, such as a legislator, reads, "Child care providers' salaries are often in the lowest bracket -- less than $22,000 per year," they find concrete evidence of the poor treatment received by child care providers. The shock of seeing such a low amount will compel the audience to ensure child care providers receive fair and just wages.

Although the statistic is vital to the NWLC's message, the most prominent feature is the text and image above. The NWLC uses first person pronouns to appeal to a general and universally understood priority. By saying, "Our children's care is a top priority..." the NWLC creates a mood of companionship and togetherness. This grouping results in a strong desire from the audience to aid the author in their mission. It also helps make the author agreeable and trustworthy to the audience, thereby making them more receptive to the ultimate message: "They [childcare providers] deserve better."

The NWLC helps shed light on an infrequently discussed topic and presents a promising first step toward creating change.