Let's read...

In my own household, my mother had to choose between a career and raising three children- a choice that left her unpaid and underappreciated as a homemaker- because there just wasn’t support for both paths. The memory of being in the city with my Dad is a particularly meaningful one since he was the sole breadwinner in our house, and my brothers and my time with him was always limited by how much he had to work. And we were an incredibly privileged family—our hardships were the stuff of other family’s dreams. The deeper into the issue of paid parental leave I go, the clearer I see the connection between persisting barriers to women’s full equality and empowerment, and the need to redefine and in some cases, destigmatize men’s role as caregivers. In other words, in order to liberate women, we need to liberate men.

Let's follow Anne Hathaway...

In my own household, / my mother had to choose / between a career / and raising three children- / a choice that left her unpaid / and underappreciated as a homemaker- / because there just wasn’t support for both paths.// The memory / of being in the city with my Dad / is a particularly meaningful / one since he was the sole breadwinner in our house, / and my brothers / and my time with him /was always limited / by how much he had to work.// And / we were an incredibly privileged family / —our hardships were the stuff / of other family’s dreams. // The deeper into the issue / of paid parental leave I go, / the clearer I see the connection / between persisting barriers to women’s full equality and empowerment, / and the need to redefine / and in some cases, / destigmatize men’s role as caregivers. // In other words, / in order to liberate women, / we need to liberate men. //

Let's read...

The assumption and common practice that women and girls look after the home and the family is a stubborn and very real stereotype that not only discriminates against women, but limits men’s participation and connection within the family and society. These limitations have broad-ranging and significant effects, for them and for the children. We know this. So why do we continue to undervalue fathers and overburden mothers? Paid parental leave is not about taking days off work; it is about creating the freedom to define roles, to choose how to invest time, and to establish new, positive cycles of behavior. Companies that have offered paid parental leave for employees have reported improved employee retention, reduced absenteeism and training costs, and boosted productivity and morale. Far from not being able to afford to have paid parental leave, it seems we can't afford not to.

Let's follow Anne Hathaway...

The assumption / and common practice // that women and girls look after the home and the family / is a stubborn and very real stereotype / that not only discriminates against women, / but limits men’s participation and connection / within the family and society. These limitations have broad-ranging and significant effects, / for them and for the children. // We know this. // So why do we continue to undervalue fathers and overburden mothers? // Paid parental leave / is not about taking days off work; / it is about creating the freedom to define roles, / to choose how to invest time, / and to establish new, / positive cycles of behavior. // Companies that have offered paid parental leave for employees / have reported improved employee retention, / reduced absenteeism and training costs, / and boosted productivity and morale. Far from not being able / to afford to have paid parental leave, / it seems we can't afford not to. //