Womens Role And Image Of Women - 1866 Words

Within industrialized nations, the role and image of women has undergone profound changes over the past few decades. Female participation in the workforce has increased steadily and societal attitudes towards women engaging in paid work have undergone significant change (Schwartz, 1988). These historical shifts have made the equality of women and men in society and the workforce an attainable goal. The participation of women in paid labour has challenged traditional gender roles and the societal ideal of the nuclear family with a sole male breadwinner. However, the primary responsibility of childcare continues to fall upon women. There are biological and social realities that must be taken into consideration when creating workplace†¦show more content†¦Virtually all countries worldwide have implemented legislation that offers maternity protection, however the level of support provided for new parents varies internationally (Addati et al., 2014). The United States and Canada are two countries with close cultural ties; however, the history of family policy and implementation of parental leave differs significantly between these nations. This paper will provide an analysis of the parental leave guidelines in Canada and the United States; the historical, ideological, political, and economic factors that have influenced policy decision making; the impacts of paid maternity leave on employment and maternal and infant health; future implications of parental leave policy; and desirable policy development for both of these nations. The parental leave policies of Canada and the United States make for a rich policy comparison. There are several key differences between the policy approaches of these countries. These policy differences are the result of a variety of factors that can by compared and contrasted to develop an understanding of how these policies came into fruition. In addition to the distinct differences in the policy routes taken within these countries in regards to parental leave, there are a number of less prominent similarities that can be examined as well. An important aspect of any comparative social policy research is