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Original poster

Is Statutory Maternity Leave sexist?

36 replies

Pregnantabroad · 18/02/2016 21:12

Instinctively I feel like statutory maternity leave is sexist but I'm struggling to articulate my argument. Any thoughts?

OP posts:
GingerCuddleMonsterThe2nd · 18/02/2016 21:30

An employer can't pay someone full pay when they are not doing their job?! [hmm. It would be unfair on the employer surely.

PennyHasNoSurname · 18/02/2016 21:29

Why is full pay for a year equal? Why is either sex entitled to a year off work on full pay to stay at home with their baby?

kinkytoes · 18/02/2016 21:29

If that were to happen the leave would be shorter. It's public money remember.

Original poster
Pregnantabroad · 18/02/2016 21:27

I mean sexist in that it is unfair on women to pay them so little. IE full pay for a year would be equality.

OP posts:
EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 18/02/2016 21:20

Oh did I get totally the wrong end of the stick? Blush

TBH about the only time I have felt more fortunate than DH because of my sex was when I was on maternity leave.

OddBoots · 18/02/2016 21:18

You mean the bit that says "you must take 2 weeks’ leave after your baby is born (or 4 weeks if you work in a factory)."?

It reads at first look a bit patronising in mandating something when no other medical or biological cause gives such a prescriptive rule to an adult. I suspect the history is as protection from pushy employers though.

madamginger · 18/02/2016 21:17

Why would it be sexist? Surely it's to allow mum to recover from the birth and bond with baby. When I had DD I felt like I'd been hit with a bus for a month afterwards whilst I recovered

SecretSpy · 18/02/2016 21:16

Do you mean the mandatory mat leave for 2/4 weeks that is not optional? Or the general concept of leave to care for a new member of the family?

EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 18/02/2016 21:16

I sort of understand - two people create a baby, one does the carrying, birthing and often feeding (and usually the vast majority of early care), that one also takes the hit financially. Is that what you mean?

Creatureofthenight · 18/02/2016 21:15

I thought it got changed to parental leave which can be shared?

GingerCuddleMonsterThe2nd · 18/02/2016 21:14

Sexist in what way? Towards men? Or women? Confused