This article followed the court case that Carole Fezar took to the Supreme Court . This woman had just adopted a child and had requested to go on maternity leave and was turned down by her boss because she had not physically given birth to the baby. By winning this court case Fezar expanded who the maternity leave laws can apply to. Because of her actions single fathers, and adopting partents are allowed to take time off to spend with their child. This article also stated some of the people who were opposed to the expansion. This will come in helpful when trying to describe who this issue effects because it widens the range of people who are able to take maternity leave. This article will also be helpful whild discussing why some one would be opposed to lengthening the United States maternity leave.
“Career Dilemma: Mum’s the Word.” Pharmacy Today, Online Magazine. Citizens Advice Bureau Information Ltd, 13 November 2006. Web.
This piece was a letter written to an editor of a magazine. The writer wrote the piece anonymously which allowed her to be completely honest. The editor also listed the rigths of women who are on maternity leave. The first right was that while on maternity leave employees get to keep their employment rights and benefits. The second right was that your employer cannot use pregnancy as a reason to fire you and if you are selected for termination you must be offered a suitable alternative job. The third right is that if you are treated less favorably because of your pregnancy it may amount to unlawful sex discrimination. The article suggests that although women are now allowed to take many women still feel discrimination once they have gotten pregnant or have children. The three rights will be helpful when writing the laws that are in place to protect women.
Hall, Kermit L. “Pregnancy, Disability, and Maternity Leaves.” The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States 2005, ENCYCLOPEDIA.COM. HighBeam Research, Inc, 2011. Web.
This excerpt from encyclopedia.com discussed the different court cases that have been brought before the Supreme Court concerning maternity leave and pregnancy at the work place. In the past women were fired once they got pregnant but after laws and several court cases women have gained the ability to fully participate in family life. As time progressed women gained support from the government and were able to get maternity leave added to the disabilities list that allows for time off work. The entry gives a non biased overview of the history of maternity leave for women. This excerpt is very informative and help address who opposes maternity leave. This site would help to explain the problems women have faced in the past. Because it is from an encyclopedia there are no biases.
Macintyre, Laura. “Paid Maternity Leave Re-enters National Debate.” Lawyers Weekly. Reed International Books Australia, 2008. 6 June 2008. Web.
This magazine article examined some other countries, like the United Kingdom and Australia, to compare their maternity leaves that are mandated by the government. In Australia women are given fourteen week of paid maternity leaves and in the UK women are given twenty-six weeks of paid maternity leave. In comparison to these government imposed times off the United States only offers their employees two weeks of mandatory paid maternity leave. The article is primarily written to discuss the changes that the Australian government was planning to make to their enforced maternity leave, but because it also mentioned what other countries offered it becomes useful in comparing how the rest of the world views maternity leaves. The article stated that the Australian government had concerns about the costs of increasing the length of maternity leave, which is similar to what American concerns about maternity leave.
Michna, Joe. “Employment Issues: Hartlepool Citizens’ Advice Bureau Manager Maternity Leave.” Evening Gazette. Gazette Media Company Ltd., 21 April 2010. Web.
This newspaper article was written in a question and answer format, which makes it appear to be an interview of a person. By writing in this way the article is very simple to navigate and find information. It gives information about who can take maternity leave, how long someone can be on maternity leave, and the procedures that a pregnant woman needs to follow when she is requesting maternity leave. This article also stated the amount of statutory maternity pay and how only some female employees will be entitled to it. These questions and answers, written by Joe Michna, are helpful in clearly addressing what women are entitled to in terms of maternity leave. Although this article is easily formatted it is not very in depth and only provides a short overview of the term maternity leave. The article unfortunately never addresses how the women feel of how employers react when women take maternity leave.
Shandy, Dianna and Moe, Karine. “The Opt-Out Phenomenon: Women, Work, and Identity in America.” Conformity and Conflict. Fourteenth. Boston: Pearson, 2009. 197-206. Print.
This article addresses why many women decide to quit working after becoming pregnant. Many The authors stated that many women feel discriminated against because they are having children and taking time off work. The women interviewed were all well-educated and had successful careers, but after having children they felt like their work environment would not permit them to go any further. Some women also reported feeling anxious about asking for longer maternity leave, which added unneeded stress to the soon-to-be mothers. This article was written by two anthropologists, who try to write from a non biased stand point. These women try to observe but not judge the women and the situations that the pregnant women face. The authors just present the information and allow the readers to evaluate it on their own. This article will be useful in providing insight into how the pregnant women feel about their maternity leaves and what effects it has on the work place.
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