Hello, I thought I'd share part of a letter I wrote to Jeremy Corbyn (also my local MP) about the Labour manifesto on maternity leave in case it's of interest or anyone wants to share onwards. Thanks, Clare
'I feel compelled to write about the Labour proposal for a year's maternity leave for women. It seemsat once progressive and regressive.
Many women will be very happy to have a year of paid leave, and that is an important and wonderful step forward. At the same time it is firmly embedding the message that childcare is a woman's job, and surely will also further exacerbate the issuer that women do the bulk of domestic labour (even when both partners work). Given that something like 80% of stay at home mothers experiencedepression, and (I believe) we are trying to work for a world where men take a stronger role in domestic life and build closer relationships with their children, this feels very sad and counter-productive.
Please thinkaboutpaternity leave as an option alongside maternity. We should no longer be assuming it's the woman who will stay at home and should surely be moving towards offering men and women equal opportunities for childcare.