Maternity Leave and Feminism

[lutheran_farmer]

The US is the worst country when it comes to time off after having a baby. We get about 12 weeks maternity leave. Look what other countries do:

United States:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 12 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: No national program but cash benefits may be provided at the state level.

Iceland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 3 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Germany:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Japan:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 67

Malta:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

New Zealand:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Paid, 38 Weeks Unpaid
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Switzerland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Belgium:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 15 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period.

Finland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70

Slovenia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Austria:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

France:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Latvia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 112 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Luxembourg:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Netherlands:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Spain:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Greece:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 119 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 50

Australia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Each parent can take up to 12 months of leave, of which 18 weeks are paid.

Lithuania:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Belarus:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Moldova:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Ukraine:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Romania:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 85

Portugal:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 120 to 150 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option.

Estonia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Poland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 20 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Russia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Italy:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 5 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Bulgaria:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 135 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid:90

Hungary:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 24 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70

Ireland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 26 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Czech Republic:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 60

Slovakia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55

Macedonia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 9 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Not found.

Norway:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 36 to 46 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option.

Albania:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 365 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 per cent prior to birth and for 150 days after and 50 per cent for the rest of the leave period.

Bosnia And Herzegovina:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period.

Canada:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 per cent at 17 weeks for maternity leave, and the additional 35 weeks can be taken by either parent. Wages also depend on province.

Croatia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Denmark:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Serbia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

United Kingdom:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 90

Sweden:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 420 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Here’s the original article:

huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/22/maternity-leaves-around-the-world_n_1536120.html

Our biggest issue in the US is that the feminists are so concerned with killing babies that they ignore supporting women that actually want babies. It’s like those of us who choose to be mothers are not worth a feminist’s time. And we’d better not stay home to raise them or we will get nothing but ridicule. The feminists in this country hurt women by acting if pregnancy is an affliction that needs to be “dealt with”. They have allowed men to place the blame of pregnancy on women because, after all, why didn’t we take the pill? Or take the “morning after” pill? Or get an abortion? After all, the feminists have made sure all three are available.

Feminists don’t want women to have their own rights. They want women to just simply act like men.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I’m sorry, what? It’s the feminists fault that they didn’t campaign for this? (Which is incorrect, this has been a big feminist issue for a long time). Furthermore, abortion and birth control are actually much more available in many of the countries you listed. Reproductive rights and maternity leave are not mutually exclusive.

If you want there to be a change, you push for it. Don’t expect anyone else to do so. You know why maternity leave is so short? Because companies don’t give their employees anything more than they are mandated to do so. Imagine the political backlash if a bill requiring businesses to pay women wages for 6+ months of maternity leave was being debated in congress! People in this country would be at each others throats! Picture the World News section at CAF blowing up because “the Obama administration is trying to make companies pay women for not working”. It would be a million times worse if the bill was submitted by a liberal lawmaker, which it most certainly would be.

No, this isn’t the fault of feminists. It’s an unfortunate byproduct of our individualistic, hard work is all you need, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps culture. Don’t get me wrong, that unique culture did a lot to industrialize our county and give us a viable economy, but there are drawbacks. Those drawbacks will require a lot of public debate and creative solutions. That’s just life.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

I’m sorry, what? It’s the feminists fault that they didn’t campaign for this? (Which is incorrect, this has been a big feminist issue for a long time). Furthermore, abortion and birth control are actually much more available in many of the countries you listed. Reproductive rights and maternity leave are not mutually exclusive.

If you want there to be a change, you push for it. Don’t expect anyone else to do so. You know why maternity leave is so short? Because companies don’t give their employees anything more than they are mandated to do so. Imagine the political backlash if a bill requiring businesses to pay women wages for 6+ months of maternity leave was being debated in congress! People in this country would be at each others throats! Picture the World News section at CAF blowing up because “the Obama administration is trying to make companies pay women for not working”. It would be a million times worse if the bill was submitted by a liberal lawmaker, which it most certainly would be.

No, this isn’t the fault of feminists. It’s an unfortunate byproduct of our individualistic, hard work is all you need, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps culture. Don’t get me wrong, that unique culture did a lot to industrialize our county and give us a viable economy, but there are drawbacks. Those drawbacks will require a lot of public debate and creative solutions. That’s just life.

 

[agnes_therese]

Feminists don’t want women to have their own rights. They want women to just simply act like men.

Would you give some examples of feminists who have worked against expanded maternity leave?

 

[mrsjennymulhall]

I imagine that feminists have certainly campaigned for better maternity benefits and care in the US (I’m in Ireland) however, the ladies you mention are probably getting the most attention. Contentious, difficult issues and people reap the most column inches.

If you are concerned about proper maternity benefits - and it sounds like you ought to be - write to your local TD (politician?) and ask what he or she is doing about it. Then make him or her your ‘pen pal’ and annoy the Heck out of them with continued letters. Be the squeaky wheel. Find out if there are any parents groups who are campaigning on this issue and join their efforts.

I think the Irish system of 26 weeks is woefully inadequate. We are advised to nurse for six months yet realistically have only 20 weeks of time with our new babies, assuming we start our leave six weeks before baby comes and she’s on time! Childcare is prohibitively expensive and poorly regulated. It is very difficult for a new family to live on one income, so realistically; mothers do not have the ‘choice’ to rear their own children. Now, that’s an issue I would be more than proud to be ‘pro choice’ about!

Take care,

Jenny

 

[SuperLuigi]

=lutheran farmer;11934298]The US is the worst country when it comes to time off after having a baby. We get about 12 weeks maternity leave. Look what other countries do:

United States:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 12 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: No national program but cash benefits may be provided at the state level.

Iceland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 3 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Germany:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Japan:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 67

Malta:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

New Zealand:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Paid, 38 Weeks Unpaid
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Switzerland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Belgium:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 15 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period.

Finland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70

Slovenia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Austria:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

France:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Latvia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 112 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Luxembourg:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Netherlands:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Spain:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Greece:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 119 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 50

Australia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Each parent can take up to 12 months of leave, of which 18 weeks are paid.

Lithuania:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Belarus:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Moldova:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Ukraine:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Romania:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 85

Portugal:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 120 to 150 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option.

Estonia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Poland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 20 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Russia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Italy:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 5 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Bulgaria:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 135 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid:90

Hungary:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 24 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70

Ireland:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 26 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Czech Republic:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 60

Slovakia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55

Macedonia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 9 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Not found.

Norway:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 36 to 46 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option.

Albania:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 365 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 per cent prior to birth and for 150 days after and 50 per cent for the rest of the leave period.

Bosnia And Herzegovina:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period.

Canada:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 per cent at 17 weeks for maternity leave, and the additional 35 weeks can be taken by either parent. Wages also depend on province.

Croatia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Denmark:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

Serbia:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100

United Kingdom:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 90

Sweden:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 420 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80

Here’s the original article:

huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/22/maternity-leaves-around-the-world_n_1536120.html

Ah, yes. This is precisely the kind of one-dimensional thinking one can expect from the Huffington Post.

I always get a kick when American liberals compare statistics of what America and Europe are doing as a reason why America needs to be more like Europe.

It can and does work on a lot of people, I’m sorry to say.

For starters, the biggest expenditure America has other than it’s mostly feel–good social welfare programs, is defense.

Not just defense for itself, but for a good chunk of the countries on that list as well.

Now, if businesses didn’t have to pay so much in taxes maybe they could afford better benefits for their employees.

How about that? Businesses knowing how to spend their money than the corrupt, wasteful American government.

Feminists don’t want women to have their own rights. They want women to just simply act like men.

There’s also political motives there too. :yup:

 

[SuperLuigi]

I imagine that feminists have certainly campaigned for better maternity benefits and care in the US (I’m in Ireland) however, the ladies you mention are probably getting the most attention. Contentious, difficult issues and people reap the most column inches.

Be careful here. In the US there’s lot of special interest groups that use surface marketing to get people all organized and reved up for more scandalous reasons.

I can’t go into any more detail than that on the SJ forums, but just know there’s more to it than some idealistic notion of women’s rights.

Most American feminists are hard-core leftists. The original women’s rights movement in the USA actually has conservative roots.

 

[mrsjennymulhall]

Be careful here. In the US there’s lot of special interest groups that use surface marketing to get people all organized and reved up for more scandalous reasons.

I can’t go into any more detail than that on the SJ forums, but just know there’s more to it than some idealistic notion of women’s rights.

Most American feminists are hard-core leftists. The original women’s rights movement in the USA actually has conservative roots.

Of course. You are quite right; not everything is as it looks on the surface. Even here in Ireland, the assumption that you must support abortion to be a feminist is pervasive. And woe betide the young woman who, on that basis, declares she is no feminist!

 

[Cricket123]

Most American feminists are hard-core leftists. The original women’s rights movement in the USA actually has conservative roots.

You can’t be serious, can you?

Susan B. Anthony? Elizabeth Cady Stanton? Lucretia Mott? Charlotte Perkins Gilman?

Who, precisely, did you have in mind?

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

Our biggest issue in the US is that the feminists are so concerned with killing babies that they ignore supporting women that actually want babies. It’s like those of us who choose to be mothers are not worth a feminist’s time. And we’d better not stay home to raise them or we will get nothing but ridicule. The feminists in this country hurt women by acting if pregnancy is an affliction that needs to be “dealt with”. They have allowed men to place the blame of pregnancy on women because, after all, why didn’t we take the pill? Or take the “morning after” pill? Or get an abortion? After all, the feminists have made sure all three are available.

Feminists don’t want women to have their own rights. They want women to just simply act like men.

This is one of the more bizarrely inaccurate diatribes against feminism I’ve read recently. It’s just so off base it’s not even worth discussing, frankly.

 

[lutheran_farmer]

Of course. You are quite right; not everything is as it looks on the surface. Even here in Ireland, the assumption that you must support abortion to be a feminist is pervasive. And woe betide the young woman who, on that basis, declares she is no feminist!

That’s exactly the sentiment here. You must support abortion or you are an ignorant doormat. Nevermind that I am a military veteran and now a farmer, both of which are traditionally male roles. Nevermind my graduate studies in molecular biology. I must be an ignorant doormat because I don’t agree with abortion. There really is so much polarization. My own mother is a raging feminist and she and her politcal group have absolutely no interest in defending maternity leave. I am very much in the middle of the political spectrum. Democrats are far too left and Republicans are too angry.

I probably looked like I am venting. Well, I am. It gets a little frustrating sometimes. Our country is not controlled by the people. It’s controlled by the special interest groups. i just wish some of the those groups were interested in looking out for all women instead of just those that agree with birth control and abortion. I am unlikely to have any more children, but it makes me sad when I hear the frustration from women who lose their jobs after having their babies and can’t afford the childcare costs it would take to get another, lower paying, job.

 

[lutheran_farmer]

This is one of the more bizarrely inaccurate diatribes against feminism I’ve read recently. It’s just so off base it’s not even worth discussing, frankly.

Hmm, I don’t know where you live, but it’s all quite clear how polarized our politics are, even from down here in the South.

 

[lutheran_farmer]

Well, look what I found. Perhaps other people like me are frustrated after listening to what our most powerful female politicians have been saying for years.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-life_feminism

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

Our biggest issue in the US is that the feminists are so concerned with killing babies that they ignore supporting women that actually want babies. It’s like those of us who choose to be mothers are not worth a feminist’s time. And we’d better not stay home to raise them or we will get nothing but ridicule. The feminists in this country hurt women by acting if pregnancy is an affliction that needs to be “dealt with”. They have allowed men to place the blame of pregnancy on women because, after all, why didn’t we take the pill? Or take the “morning after” pill? Or get an abortion? After all, the feminists have made sure all three are available.

Feminists don’t want women to have their own rights. They want women to just simply act like men.

1. How much time do you think that CAF posters spend on this issue?
2. “Feminist” is not a dirty word. It’s an indication that someone is concerned with the equal treatment of women.
3. Are you really going to make me dredge up the names of feminists that have advanced this cause? Because I’d rather you just admit that you’re incorrect here so I don’t have to waste my time. Thanks.

 

[Avila123]

Sorry, more bad news.
In the UK we work a shorter week and have an average of 25 days holiday (excluding 6 Bank Holidays).
Our average wage is lower.
Our average tax on wages is 32.3% (2.3% higher than the US).
The average cost of living is higher in the UK.

However, in other countries they have lower wages, longer hours and no paid maternity leave. I know average does not reflect reality as the wages are inflated by the top 10% but it is the best comparison available. Most people are blessed to reach the average wage near the end of their working life.

The grass usually appears greener on the other side because we don’t see the whole picture. Sometimes its hard to count our blessings or get up the courage to fight (even if it is for a good cause).

Just some observations.

 

[Nelka]

United Kingdom:
Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 90

Not exactly. Only 39 weeks are paid and not much at that.

You get six weeks money at 90% of wages, 33 weeks at £129 per week and 13 weeks at £0.

The only difference is if you work for the council or are something like a teacher at which point you are on a far superior maternity leave.

I had to work myself half to death to keep my wife on maternity leave.

 

[Nelka]

In the UK we work a shorter week and have an average of 25 days holiday (excluding 6 Bank Holidays).

Shorter week?

You are lucky if you get 25 days holiday excluding bank holidays as the most I ever had was 21 and that was me working a full week.

 

[SuperLuigi]

You can’t be serious, can you?

Susan B. Anthony? Elizabeth Cady Stanton? Lucretia Mott? Charlotte Perkins Gilman?

Who, precisely, did you have in mind?

Susan B. Anthony:

“I shall work for the Republican party and call on all women to join me, precisely… for what that party has done and promises to do for women, nothing more, nothing less.”
Letter to Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Autumn 1872)

According to the History Channel website, both Mott and Stanton were big aboltonists, which was a republican value.

I prefer the factual version of history versus the distorted post-modern liberal one:

spectator.org/articles/35608/republicans-and-womens-rights-brief-reality-check

 

[SuperLuigi]

It’s an unfortunate byproduct of our individualistic, hard work is all you need, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps culture.

Here in entitlement nation???

:dts:

 

[Avila123]

Shorter week?

You are lucky if you get 25 days holiday excluding bank holidays as the most I ever had was 21 and that was me working a full week.

When I started work, I had 15 days holiday and over the years it rose to 30. Now they are cutting back on leave. I suppose it depends where you work.