For the longest time, I have been dismayed at the state of our maternity care, in particular, maternity leave in the United States. Along with Papua New Guinea and Suriname, the United States is the only industrialized country without mandated maternity leave, let alone paternity leave. There has been much focus on this issue from a variety of perspectives, and so, I believe that I will learn much more if I research and discuss the less known, but arguably more dismal condition of paternity leave in our country. My Capstone project will aim to gather, synthesize, and articulate the most recent information concerning paternity leave in the United States and abroad, in order to create awareness.
I will be creating an infographic file with a combination of statistics and vectors that bring up the issues surrounding paternity leave. This artifact will be further enhanced by a sound remix file that focuses on other countries’ solutions and results to the problem, highlighting key areas like Sweden. These two files will be encased within a website that provides a basic background concerning how increased paternity leave will ultimately help elevate maternity leave, as well as the health and well-being of the American family. There will also be links to recent research findings and statistics reflecting the impact of such regulations. A full works cited page will be included as well, along with materials for further reading and thought.
Only California, New Jersey, and Washington have paid paternity leave policies. Spread the word — help new families adjust! #paternityleave
— MinetChan (@MinetChan) November 4, 2015
The FMLA only covers 59% of US workers — moms and dads need more support! #maternityleave #paternityleave
— MinetChan (@MinetChan) November 4, 2015
Most fathers don't use their employer's paternity leave — most can't afford the loss of income. Help elevate this issue! #paternityleave
— MinetChan (@MinetChan) November 4, 2015
Did you know that fathers in Iceland take 90 days of leave? There is no mandated leave in the US — raise awareness! #paternityleave
— MinetChan (@MinetChan) November 4, 2015
Only 14% of of U.S. employers offer paid time off for new fathers. Raise awareness to help new families thrive! #paternityleave
— MinetChan (@MinetChan) November 3, 2015