Policy Makes a Difference
Sweden has generous parental leave. And at least two months are reserved for fathers. A recent article in the New York Times describes amazing social shifts as a result. Men are no longer identified just by their jobs and women’s incomes are increasing. The article reports that a new definition of masculinity is emerging and this is reflected in new workplace norms. As a result men are not penalized for taking paternity leave.
In the United States parental leave policies vary from state to state. Many states do not have paid leave for either parent. Women’s careers often stall or fall behind with the birth of a child. Men who take advantage of parental leave policies often are discriminated against at work. Not so in Sweden. Sweden also has highly subsidized preschools. According to the article, female employment rates and birth rates have sky-rocketed as well.
Gender equality is much easier when social policies support it. Without strong workplace and governmental policies, men and women easily blame each other and social policies reinforce gender stereotypes. (For a look at how parents in the U. S. struggle to share parenting, see Francine Deutsch’s interesting study “Halving It All.”)
Thank you Froma Walsh for passing along this interesting article.
posted by Carmen Knudson-Martin
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