43 Percent Married Women with Kids dont want to work full time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s health insurance trap. I work 40 hours week on-site. I supply insurance for my family. I’d love to work 30 hours week with prorated benefits but no. In Amsterdam and other European locations many women work school hours and on ramp at their whim.
I wish for my daughters a better balance.

Ugh. The mommy trap.

This is very common. I’m not convinced the European labor market and long parental leaves are that great for women. Wages are much lower with higher taxes which necessitates two incomes. Women seem highly encouraged to return to work after parental leave and then expected to work flexible jobs so they can also do everything at home. A MC/UMC woman staying home seems less of an option than it is here. The long parental leaves mean women often can’t make any progress professionally. The labor market there is less dynamic and more difficult to hire and fire. Productivity is much lower too. The long leaves come at a huge cost.

I mean, is the outcome really all that different in the US? Most families need two incomes, and women are still largely expected to do the work at home. We just don't get the benefit of the parental leave, lol.

FWIW, I have several Scandinavian colleagues and it seems common for BOTH parents to take their turns with parental leave. e.g., mom takes it first then the dad.

[Anonymous]

Well, yeah, kids are a full time job in and of themselves if you don’t outsource.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s health insurance trap. I work 40 hours week on-site. I supply insurance for my family. I’d love to work 30 hours week with prorated benefits but no. In Amsterdam and other European locations many women work school hours and on ramp at their whim.
I wish for my daughters a better balance.

Ugh. The mommy trap.

This is very common. I’m not convinced the European labor market and long parental leaves are that great for women. Wages are much lower with higher taxes which necessitates two incomes. Women seem highly encouraged to return to work after parental leave and then expected to work flexible jobs so they can also do everything at home. A MC/UMC woman staying home seems less of an option than it is here. The long parental leaves mean women often can’t make any progress professionally. The labor market there is less dynamic and more difficult to hire and fire. Productivity is much lower too. The long leaves come at a huge cost.

I mean, is the outcome really all that different in the US? Most families need two incomes, and women are still largely expected to do the work at home. We just don't get the benefit of the parental leave, lol.

FWIW, I have several Scandinavian colleagues and it seems common for BOTH parents to take their turns with parental leave. e.g., mom takes it first then the dad.

Agreed, we already need two incomes (and no, it's not because we're big spenders), so I'd take that deal. The term "mommy track" exists in the US for people trying to trade off family flexibility for advancement, but it doesn't come with the long leave either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s health insurance trap. I work 40 hours week on-site. I supply insurance for my family. I’d love to work 30 hours week with prorated benefits but no. In Amsterdam and other European locations many women work school hours and on ramp at their whim.
I wish for my daughters a better balance.

Ugh. The mommy trap.

This is very common. I’m not convinced the European labor market and long parental leaves are that great for women. Wages are much lower with higher taxes which necessitates two incomes. Women seem highly encouraged to return to work after parental leave and then expected to work flexible jobs so they can also do everything at home. A MC/UMC woman staying home seems less of an option than it is here. The long parental leaves mean women often can’t make any progress professionally. The labor market there is less dynamic and more difficult to hire and fire. Productivity is much lower too. The long leaves come at a huge cost.

I took 4 months off and couldn't wait to get beck to work. I guess I am not much of a baby person. I much prefer the company of kids 3/4+

+1

I would much prefer taking 8 weeks, going back to work then taking a year when my kid is 2 or 3. I know that obviously doesn’t work but my maternity leave couldn’t end soon enough.

same. I felt so relieved when I was at my desk. I admire women who choose the SAHM path, because I know I would legit go crazy and working my stressful job is a breeze in comparison, as much as I love my kid.