Lene wrote:
Absolutely. I think you should have equal status and respect regardless of gender or race. I don't support 'female supremecy' but I definitely do not agree with people who complain that it's "gone too far the other way now". We may be equal in some ways, but we still haven't achieved full equality as far as respect and equal pay goes.
To be honest, I think some women make it harder for others to get treated fairly. Take women who get a new job and then immediately go on paid maternity leave, leaving their employer to have to find someone else to do her job. Yes, it's their right to procreate, but that sends out a message to employers that women are flakey and there's no point in hiring a woman of childbearing age. They won't say as much openly, but I've definitely heard comments like this 'off the books'. You could argue that they are being prejudiced etc, but realistically, they're running a buisiness. It doesn't make sense to pay an employee for doing nothing, and like it or not, it's going to have a knock-on effect as to who they employ in future.
I think there should be a system that if you have worked a certain number of years, you are entitled to paid maternity leave. If you have worked less, then you should get leave but no pay, and then if you've only just started, you shouldn't be paid or expect your job back.
Sorry if that sounds harsh; I'm not trying to have a go at working mothers, and I do realise that women have different biological clocks than men, and that we're often the ones left 'holding the baby', but I think the way to solve that is that men should be entitled to more paternity leave and expected to do their share of raising the kid as well; if your career has to suffer because you have kids, then both partners should be prepared to accept that (unless they personally want to have a different arrangement).
Er, anyway, that was a bit off topic. Regards to the original question, I'm an old-fashioned feminist. Not the 'empowerment through pole-dancing' kind
through canada's employment insurance program, the mother can have 15 weeks paid maternity benefits (for recovery of health), but there are additionally 35 weeks of parental benefits that can be shared or used by either parent (of any gender), for a birth or adoption. society is changing, but it is slow.
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