It’s almost #MothersDay, and everyone *loves* moms—but legislation says… otherwise. Since this clip filmed on John Oliver in 2015, here’s where a few things stand: ➡️ The U.S. is one of only 7 countries that doesn’t legally require paid time off for new parents. ➡️ 13 of 50 U.S. states, including Washington, D.C. now have statewide paid family leave. ➡️ 21 of 50 U.S. states ban or restrict access to early abortions. ➡️ The U.S. has the second most expensive child care system in the world, only behind New Zealand. ➡️ 4 in 10 U.S. parents are in debt due to the cost of child care. It’s about time the system accommodated 50% of the population. We need to work toward shifts that help women and families—affordable child care, flexible work, postpartum care and better parental leave policies, to name a few.
Watching this reinforces the idea that not having children as a woman is completely acceptable..
We live in a country motivated solely on money. We are all doing the job of 3 people. Employers have to make money. The talk about health and wellness but continue to give us more work. The issue is not just with family leave, but time off in general. Other countries have double the vacation time we have. And retirement age for the US is ridiculous. You have to work until you are almost dead to be able to retire. I have 3 grown children. My husband and I worked opposite shifts to make childcare easier. We still had to pay for after school care. If I was at child bearing age today, I would think twice about having kids or stop at 1. No one can do it all.
In well noted, Nordic nations, they offer a mother 1-2 years of leave and the father a year in some cases. I know Denmark specifically is very progressive and has a rich culture that nutures the family unit, making it attractive to start a family and maintain a HEALTHY family unit instead of a financial nightmare. They can go inside a restaurant and it isn't unusual to see strollers parked outside with the babies inside them... In America, we gasp but we can't even allow children to play unattended and worry about their safety in classrooms. Plus, the ideals/policy around FMLA are laughable. We don't support anything except population control.
How many companies recognize caregivers or elder care? Any legislation to help mom (the caregiver) or mom (the elder)?? It's a huge problem for women of all ages that bear the brunt of care giving and often leave their careers because of it.
Yep they have American women believing other cultures and countries are inly full of oppressed women… but the vast majority outside of extremist groups are happy home makers - don’t get me wrong being a stay at home mom no matter what country is extremely challenging- but a lot of the women I know from other cultures are supported not just by their husbands but their families rally around them and they aren’t subjected to any of this. And as far as the ones that Get To wear pretty modest wear like hijabs ( again not the extremist groups who force women) but the ones who get to be respected and seen as beautiful women all while being completely covered and protected from the perverted outside world, who don’t have to twerk or wear see through clothes to peacock for a “man” instead of men who actually want wives and want to protect us from outside difficulties- I feel like we were sold a big false story. Women of other cultures - if I’m wrong please let me know. I know relationships are difficult everywhere but I would rather be in a difficult relationship but supported and protected and valued than not
Those stats in the US are shocking. Considering the US is supposed to be a 1st world country these figures really put the US to shame 😳
I would add to this that the US should do better than supporting 50% of the population, it should be giving paternity as well as maternity leave! Both parents deserve the chance to be present, and at home to take care of their children, and giving only maternity leave sends a clear message that childcare is only women's work.
I watched this short film and was appalled, but the more I watched, the more I identified with the ladies in it. I think he has hit the nail on the head here. We "celebrate" that we were born out of our mothers without actually celebrating our mothers. This seems harsh, but it is how we women see this male-dominated society. Sorry if it sounds like I am up on my soapbox. Once a feminist, always a feminist.
For a 1st world country to lack some of the most basic common sense and respect for women when other much more economically smaller countries have paid work leave for mothers as federal law and a non-negotiable, is ridiculous and inhumane. We are talking about basic human rights and one of the main injustices for women in the US. And its punitive for the unemployment department to say that if you lost your job right before giving birth and you are petitioning for unemployment, you don't qualify as you are physically "unfit to work" immediately following giving birth until the OBGYN clears you- which is usually at about 6-8 weeks. Of course a mother needs at the bare minimum 6 weeks if not 6 months to heal physically and psychologically after the process. It's still going to be physically and mentally hard work to be a mom and warrants respect and support so that a mother can care for her child naturally and well through the first year. The stress and exhaustion of a new mom's reality is not something to be overlooked. More support and healthy guidance is needed.
Account Manager at CYRACOM INTERNATIONAL INC
2moAs a single mother, my bosses thought I was desperate to keep my job. They were rude and disrespectful and called me at 4 a.m. to cover a male associate's shift because he and the assistant mgr. (his brother) wanted to go camping. They could not believe that I walked out not having another job in place. After a couple of months of living off my savings, I landed a management position and have not looked back.