AMERICA IS THE WORST COUNTRY IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD TO BE A MOTHER
COUNTRIES WITH PAID MATERNITY LEAVE
(Chart Source: Vox 2014)
Being a mother is arguably one of the most difficult jobs there is. The job of motherhood is 24/7, has no wage, few breaks and requires many sleepless nights. Yet this job is made much more difficult for American mothers. America is one of the few countries in the world that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave. To add to this complication, more than two-thirds of mothers hold jobs outside of the home and are the primary bread winners in 40 percent of families. While there is much lip service in the U.S. about the importance of "family values," the reality that is offered to mothers is a much different story. Many mothers are forced to sacrifice time with their newborn children, in order to keep a roof over that child's head.
COUNTRIES WITH PAID PATERNITY LEAVE
(Chart Source: Vox 2014)
It would be much easier for mothers to balance work and home life if fathers were allowed to spend more time parenting, but public policy is even less friendly to that idea.
PAID VACATION DAYS BY COUNTRY
(Chart Source: Vox 2014)
PAID SICK LEAVE BY COUNTRY
(Chart Source: Vox 2014)
Yet to add to this challenge, Americans also have no guarantee of paid vacation days, or even paid sick leave. Therefore many mothers must send their children to school sick or else face the prospect of losing their jobs.
Is this what motherhood should look like? We Think not.
RELEVANT LINKS
If America really valued mothers, we wouldn’t treat them like this (VOX, 5-10-15)
Breadwinner Moms (Pew Research Center, 9-29-13)