s/o SAH/WOH- article on Sweden's approach

[elektra]

I couldn't help but think of this article I read recently after seeing the latest SAH/WOH thread.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2011/01/britain_and_nordic_world_0
It's titled, "The strongest girls in the world."
I have heard/read about Sweden's system but one of the things I had not thought about before was that it not only seems to encourage more women to enter the workforce but it also encourages them to have more children too. ..IF that's what they want.

I also admit to being biased as I am of Nordic heritage. ;)

[boolady]

I remember reading an article (NYT magazine, maybe?) a year or two ago about the Nordic support for family leave, etc. It's really fascinating, and makes one think about how we could improve our own way of doing things. Thanks for the read.

[AnnieW625]

Thanks for posting, that was interesting. It would be great if a system like that worked here in the USA, but unfortunately I am firm believer that those type of programs will never work here because the population of the country is soo large. It would be nice if that worked as a nation too, but I honestly can't see it flying at all; it would be labeled "welfare for mothers" and that's not cool, but yeah the USA should be able to do something besides 12 weeks of un paid leave.

Canada's payment is similar to what you can get in California on 6 weeks of paid family leave, and 6 to 10 weeks of post partum SDI (if your company pays into it) after the birth of your child. I made $650 a week I think when I was on post partum disability (my injured workers make more on workers' comp:shake:), and paid family leave.

Here is a list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave) of what other country's parental leave benefits are (thanks Wikipedia!)