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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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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 21:14

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

Creatureofthenight · 18/02/2016 21:15

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

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?

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?

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

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.

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.

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:
kinkytoes · 18/02/2016 21:29

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

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?

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.

Original poster
Pregnantabroad · 18/02/2016 21:30

Sorry - just realised that my opening line was not clear at all! My question should have read: Is it sexist that women have to take a massive pay cut (through SML) in order to have children? And therefore, is it sexist of companies not to offer more than SML?

OP posts:
Run247 · 18/02/2016 21:31

Would that not be unfair for those who choose not to have children? Maybe they could just have a random year off work and be paid for a full year?

OddBoots · 18/02/2016 21:31

Isn't the rate of pay the same for men who share parental leave? I don't know how that bit works as my children are older but I thought it was a lot more equal now.

museumum · 18/02/2016 21:31

I survived on MA as I'm self employed. It was same amount as stat pay. Most people I know got more from their employer at least for the first months.
I think stat may pay should be set at equivalent to NMW.

slebmum1 · 18/02/2016 21:32

Women fought for mat leave - it's not sexist!

It wouldn't be financially viable for small companies to offer enhanced mat leave.

WidowWadman · 18/02/2016 21:32

Who would finance full pay for a year? Some large organisations offer enhanced maternity pay for a certain amount of time, but I guess many SME s couldn't afford that and if mandated would just look to avoid employing women altogether.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 18/02/2016 21:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Pregnantabroad · 18/02/2016 21:45

All interesting thoughts.

OP posts:
EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 18/02/2016 21:47

Oh, I was right. Phew.

I agree that a year's full pay would be unaffordable, and unfair in those who don't or can't have children. However, it is true that having a child means a woman takes an immediate financial hit - in any fair relationship that's shared but that's not mandated. And longer term women's career progression is delayed by maternity leave and parenting. So OP has a point about sexism though I think capitalism is largely at fault. More family time would benefit men, women and children.

kinkytoes · 18/02/2016 21:49

So long as women bear children and men don't, things will never be completely equal.

AStreetcarNamedBob · 18/02/2016 21:50

But women DONT HAVE TO take a massive pay cut? It's parental leave not maternity leave now.

You're welcome to stroll right back to work and leave the father with the baby for a year on statutory pay.

So no it's not sexist.

hedgehogsdontbite · 18/02/2016 21:57

I live in Sweden. We have equality when it comes to working and having a baby. Parental leave is approximately 6 months for each parent. Statutory pay is 80% of your salary for the whole period. Majority of employers top it up to 100%. Plus you can take your leave when you like in the first 8 years.

When DS was born my DH took a month off. Then worked a 3 day week until he was 6 months old and then a 4 day week until he'd used up all his days, at about 18 months.

VestalVirgin · 24/02/2016 11:00

The pay should be 100% for as long as the woman needs to recover from the birth. I don't know, four weeks or so?

Pretending that giving birth doesn't have a massive impact on a woman's health is stupid and, yes, sexist.

That parental leave is not paid well enough is not technically sexist, though I suspect it mainly affects women. But it is stupid. Germany, at least, is worried about low birth rates, and ... yeah, well, I can see why people aren't choosing to have more babies.

sashh · 26/02/2016 13:08

But women DONT HAVE TO take a massive pay cut? It's parental leave not maternity leave now.

I know a gay couple who are adoption, one will be a sahd for a year while the other works.

What is sexist is that the reason more women stop at home is they earn less than their male partner.