This is quote from Ellen Bravo's discussion of the Family and Medical leave act:
"Today, more than half the private sector workforce is not protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Nearly three million a year who are covered need the leave but can’t afford to take it. And the FMLA doesn’t cover routine illness. Half the workforce—and three-fourths of low wage workers—has no paid sick days. For millions of Americans, being at the bedside of an ill child, partner or parent could mean losing a paycheck or even a job."
Read the rest of the essay here.
Why is this a feminist issue? Does the FMLA affect women more that men? What are the problems with extending the FMLA?
3 comments:
I believe this may be a feminist issue because of women wanting to take maternity leave. Women have to cut the time short they can stay home with their newborn. either because they are not being paid or may lose their job. Also, from what I have witnessd, women tend to stay home with a sick child more then men do. I think the FMLA may affect women a bit more than men however it does affect them. Men themselves get sick or want to be with their sick child or family member just as much as women may. Men may also want to stay home after their child is born to help with the baby or his wife recover. Extending the FMLA would probably lead to higher taxes and more money being taken from paychecks. There would also be the issue of people trying to abuse the system and what constitues a good enough reason for not coming to work.
This is a feminist issue because women today are becoming more and more popular in the workforce, and usually women are the ones that will usually stay home if someone in the family gets sick, or when she is on maternity leave, and they wont get paid. so how would they be able to support their family if they are losing their jobs or not getting paid at all. Also what if the women is the only source of income and the FMLA will affect the family and her life. Im not saying this is just and issue for women it will also effect men also but it hits home alot more for women all depending the situation.
I think that the FMLA effects both men and women, but women alittle more. If you look at trends in society it is the woman who would usually stay home with a child when they are sick. This absence from work may not be covered by leave pay and I think that is wrong. If the man stayed home instead they probably wouldn't get paid either unless they had a higher end and more professional job. Lower wage jobs however don't provide sick leave and I think that is wrong, and poses a problem for both men and women. But I do think there is one kink with the FMLA, how can one prove that they were actually sick? If someone called in said they weren't feeling good, got paid for their absence, but were really out doing something they enjoyed that day and weren't sick at all then that is a problem. the company just paid money to a person who did not deserve it, and lets face it, there are plenty of dishonest people out there who would take advantage of that. so there are negatives to the FMLA not being passed and to it being passed. with that kind of dilemna i'm sure it won't be passed anytime soon.
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