Somehow, weandeveryAmericanparentwereexpectedtobe “backtonormal” inunderthreemonths. Withoutincome? Irememberthinkingtomyself, “Ifthepracticalrealityofpregnancyisanothermouthtofeedinyourhome, andAmericaisacountrywheremostpeoplearelivingpaychecktopaycheck, howdoes 12 weeksunpaidleaveeconomicallywork?
Thetruthis: fortoomanypeople, itdoesn’t. OneinfourAmericanwomengobacktoworktwoweeksaftergivingbirthbecausetheycan’taffordtotakeanymoretimeoffthanthat. Thatis 25 percentofAmericanwomen. Equallydisturbing, womenwhocanaffordtotakethefull 12 weeksoftendon’t, becauseitwillmeanincurringa “motherhoodpenalty” – meaningtheywillbeperceivedaslessdedicatedtotheirjobandwillbepassedoverforpromotionsandothercareeradvancement. Inmyownhousehold, mymotherhadtochoosebetweenacareerandraisingthreechildren – achoicethatleftherunpaidandunderappreciatedasahomemaker – becausetherejustwasn’tsupportforbothpaths. ThememoryofbeinginthecitywithmyDadisaparticularlymeaningfulonesincehewasthesolebreadwinnerinourhouse, andmybrothers’ andmytimewithhimwasalwayslimitedbyhowmuchhehadtowork. Andwewereanincrediblyprivilegedfamily – ourhardshipswerethestuffofotherfamily’sdreams.
ThedeeperintotheissueofpaidparentalleaveIgo, theclearerIseetheconnectionbetweenpersistingbarrierstowomen’sfullequalityandempowerment, andtheneedtoredefineandinsomecases, destigmatizemen’sroleascaregivers. Inotherwords…thankyou. Inotherwords, inordertoliberatewomen, weneedtoliberatemen.
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