The United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not guarantee paid parental leave upon the birth of a baby. A quick glance across the globe shows that the U.S. lags far behind when it comes to caring for our families.
Check it our for yourself with this map by CapRelo:
In Chinese culture, after the birth of a baby, women experience "Zuo Yuezi," or the sitting month. It's a time in which mothers are cared for as they recover and take care of their newborn.
Across Latin America, many women embrace the cultural tradition of la cuarentena. For approximately 40 days after the birth of a baby, a new mother is cared for, and attention is placed on her well-being. These "confinement" periods, which are a part of many cultures, are meant to help a woman recover from the difficulties of childbirth, as well as to bond with her baby.
Here in America, the focus is very different. While mothers-to-be are celebrated in the months leading up to birth, once the infant is born, the attention often shifts to the baby, and away from mom. More, a lack of paid maternity leave often forces mothers to get back on their feet as quickly as possible so that they can return to work. While having a baby is a sacred time in the life of a family, all too often parents are forced to leave their newborns to return to work.
Related: Here's What Women Around the World REALLY Think of U.S. Maternity Leave
Paid maternity leave provides significant benefits to children and their parents. A 2011 study found that women who were granted paid maternity leave breastfed their babies for twice as long as those women who did not take leave. Further, paid leave has been shown to reduce infant mortality by as much as 10 percent.
Given the health and economic benefits of paid leave, it's a wonder why the United States lags so far behind other developed nations. According to Business Insider, whether or not parents receive paid leave is not a partisan issue. Both Democrats and Republicans support paid family leave for the birth of a baby. However, Americans place more emphasis on the support of businesses then we do on the support of families.
Related: Parental Leave is a Basic Human Right: When Will the US Catch On?
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 allows mothers in the United States 12 weeks of unpaid time off, granted that their company employs at least 50 people. Further, mothers are required to have worked full-time at the company for at least one year. 40% of employees do not meet FMLA criteria. Even for those who do meet the eligibility criteria, many families cannot afford to take the unpaid time away from work.
Many countries understand that while guaranteed paid leave is expensive, the economic returns are worth it. Countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Norway all provide generous maternity and paternity benefits, as do Serbia, Croatia, and the United Kingdom.
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