I thought this article was really interesting. I'd heard about the video they reference but still haven't watched it...I understand the point they're trying to make so I don't feel like I need to watch.
However, the article is about so much more than that. It basically asserts that the value that a country places on mothering (and fathering) is apparent in it's maternity/paternity leave policies. It claims that countries who acknowledge the significance of a baby's first months for bonding, attachment, establishing breastfeeding, etc., will have better maternity leave policies, which includes longer leave and guaranteed paid leave.
It is a pretty neat look at maternity leave around the world, and presents some interesting points. I thought it might make for some good discussion:
"We make mothers choose between spending a month with their newborn child or keeping a roof over their child's head. That's not how it looks in countries that value the work mothers do."

Read the article here:
https://www.vox.com/2014/5/12/5708362/how-america-makes-the-worldshardestjob-even-harder
Re: Maternity Leave - Does the US value mothering?
I fully agree with these articles, but the question is...what good do they do? It is common knowledge that the US "maternity" leave is crap - because it doesn't exist. But politicians don't care; and, no matter how many articles are written, they won't care until we make them care. But they can't even agree on if the sky is blue anymore so how the hell is our very broken government going agree on and enact any meaningful changes to our leave policies. Especially with large corporations not willing to take up the campaign.
I wonder how many women can say that they have written letters to their local/state officials asking for them to work on this? I have, but it has been a few years since I did. I've signed petitions on it, but there is no central effort to do this, just a bunch of people randomly trying to be heard. We need an overriding organization with high visibility to take on this issue and MAKE someone listen.
I am not saying change can't happen, I'm saying its all rhetoric at this point until someone very visible with a lot of political weight steps up and makes it a priority. One more article isn't going to do it...but I don't know what will. It just makes me sad now to read these articles because I know I will never get the benefits that others may. Because no one took this cause up 20 years ago.
...and also they're written to complain. :P
I'm from Canada, but I have friends living in the US who get about 3 months of leave, I think. One is a nurse, and we were discussing how hard it would be to go back to work with a three month old baby! And I know someone else who just ot six weeks off!
I am very thankful for our maternity leave in Canada. I get a year off, and it's paid but at about 50% so it can be a HUGE struggle. There are private companies who will match the difference so the new parent is earning the same amount of income...wish my place of employment would do that!
It's a BOY! Est. Due Date - October 17th
Just like the c-section rate in the US. It's appalling and most people don't know. They want to assume the USA is just better and more advanced in every way.
ETA: Wow...aren't I a downer today. Sheesh, Emerald. Take a chill pill.
And FMLA is only for companies that qualify so not everyone gets it.
And the point is that it isn't maternity leave, it is STD. So if your employer doesn't offer it, or you don't qualify for it, you don't get it. Not every employee is eligible for STD even if the company provides it (waiting periods, may not be in an eligible class of employees, etc.).
Oh! No, I wasn't complaining. I realize, as a country, we're lucky! But 50%ish of my salary is very low. I'm lucky also that my fiancee has decent pay, so we should be fine.
Sort of a double edged sword. A lot of people go back to work early because they simply cannot afford it to take the whole year off.
It's a BOY! Est. Due Date - October 17th
I am eliegble for my company's std policy in April
So next baby will be covered but not this one.
Just playing devil's advocate here. If policies change and the U.S. does start extending maternity leave for women, don't you think that more companies would hesitate to hire women of child bearing age? I wonder how often that happens in other countries where they have longer maternity leaves. Or how often they make up reasons for letting go of someone who is pregnant because they don't want to be on the hook for paying such a long maternity leave.
Not saying that the current policy is right but just pointing out that longer maternity leaves could have detrimental effects.
As someone else said, my first response to this post was "LOL, nope," but the Libertarian in me doesn't believe it's my country's responsibility to value my mothering. My government should build roads and bridges, enforce laws, levy and spend taxes responsibly on basic social services and security. Otherwise I don't want it's hands on anything. I don't want them telling me what I have to buy, who I can and cannot marry, and I certainly don't want them telling my employer that they have to keep my job secure for a year, so I can stay home and be a mother, a choice I freely made without considering my employer or my government.
It's my responsibility to raise children who can be contributing members of society (and if in the event I have a child who cannot due to disabilities, then it's my responsibility to get a trust set up for them, so it doesn't fall on anyone else as well). I will do this in the best way I see fit, and if that means I stay home full time, stay home for 12 weeks, or stay home for 2 days, I don't see how the government or my employer "allowing" a set amount of time has any bearing on it.
Our family background: We live much lower than our means, so we can change our employment situations at any time based on the needs of our family. My son thrives at daycare, but if this next child doesn't do well with daycare, then I stay home, and we're still going to have fully funded retirements, be debt free, and have our house paid for in 5 years. This isn't because we make insane amounts of money, it's because we choose to live reasonable, responsible, and sustainable lives. We got married 6 years ago, and we both came to the marriage with ridiculous debt and spending habits compared to our income. We've made changes, buckled down, and realized we wanted a better life for ourselves and our future family, and we turned it around in a relatively small amount of time. This is what makes our country great! That is the American dream, not a year long, paid maternity leave.
Same with me in regards to STD. I don't pay for that through my work so I'd have to apply elsewhere but it's too late. I work in healthcare and get the 12 weeks of unpaid leave BUT I have to use up my PTO and EI first, then the rest is unpaid.
This for me too.
I don't need someone to fight my battles when like pp said I don't send letters or put forth effort in this BUT it would be nice if they would fight battles like this on their own turf.
BFP #2 2/6/14 EDD 10/16/14- keeping our fingers crossed!
After I use my time off and extended illness hours, I will have probably 4 weeks of unpaid leave. I still have to pay for my medical insurance during the time that I'm not getting paid. I don't have that much time off saved up because of having a 2 year old and needing so much time off over the last 2 years with him
To counteract not getting pay checks for a few weeks of my maternity leave, we have been saving money to "pay" myself while I am out. We did that last time around and it worked well.
Good idea! I should start planning that out.Unfortunately, I have to miss out on some bonus checks I usually get in the fall for extra classes I teach in the evenings. *sigh* it will all work out. In the end, I am lucky to be a teacher and have vacations with baby anyway. Of course school weeks will be hard with bringing home so much work/grading.
But I agree with some, we can complain all we want - don't see much changing any time soon.