SUMMARY 1.
Jani
Professor B.
English 113
26 September 2013
Professor B.
English 113
26 September 2013
Summary of the Article “What I think
about the fashion world”
In the article “What
I think about the fashion world” Author Liz
Jones argues that the fashion industry is not willing to change the norms of
what is the ideal female body. Jones, a former editor of Marie Claire, started a campaign to stop
using underweight models as fashion icons. Jones writes that she confronted opposing opinions especially
from her colleagues, editors of other fashion magazines. Jones says she was
expecting the most support from her colleagues and she was totally surprised for
the strong counterarguments. However, Jones also states that
the subscribers were very excited about Marie Claire’s use of realistic body
types as models.
SUMMARIES 2 and 3
EXERCISE ONE
SUMMARIES 2 and 3
Jani
Professor B.
English 113A
4 October 2013
Professor B.
English 113A
4 October 2013
Summary of the article “Finnishing
school Childcare and parental leave structures in Finland are hugely desirable, Kathyrn Holmquist
Discovers”
In the
article “Finnishing school Childcare and parental leave structures in Finland
are hugely desirable, Kathyrn
Holmquist Discovers” author, Kathryn Holmquist, argues that the European Foundation for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions should use Finland as an example for a collective
bargaining inside Europe. Holmquist writes that collective bargaining helps to
achieve balance between family, work and gender related issues. Holmquist
states that Finland is a good example on how to use laws and welfare to achieve
a supportive environment for families. Holmquist argues that the Finnish system
supports parenthood for both genders. This support, Holmquist writes, is part
of the family life from the beginning, when the baby is born, all the way
through kindergarten.
Jani
Professor B.
English 113A
4 October 2013
Professor B.
English 113A
4 October 2013
Summary of the article “Finnish
diplomat pushes child-rearing for dads”
In the
article “Finnish diplomat pushes child-rearing for dads” author Mami Maruko
writes how a Finnish diplomat in Japan, Mikko Koivumaa, has introduced the
Japanese to child-rearing done by fathers. Maruko writes how Koivumaa and other
fathers in Finland take wide responsibility raising their kids. Maruko tells
how Koivumaa has written a book to help the Japanese understand how the Finnish
fathers are present in their children’s lives. Maruko also states that the
Finnish society supports parenthood for both mom and dad.
Works Cited
"Finnishing
School Childcare and Parental Leave Structures in Finland are Hugely Desirable,
Kathyrn Holmquist
Discovers." Irish Times: 12. Mar 31 1999. ProQuest. Web. 4
Oct. 2013. Maruko,
Mami. "Finnish Diplomat Pushes Child-Rearing for
Dads." McClatchy – Tribune Business News
Jun 18 2013. ProQuest. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.
EXERCISE ONE
Jani
Professor B.
English 113
8 October 2013
Professor B.
English 113
8 October 2013
Middle class elitism
Sarah had lived in a small town in
northern Minnesota for all of her life until she graduated from high school.
Her family didn’t really have the money to pay for her college, but she was
very smart and was able to get a scholarship to Yale. Sarah’s mom had worked as
a secretary at the local newspaper,
but, because of the high cost on childcare, she
became a stay at home mom after she gave birth to her three
miracles of life. Sarah was the oldest and her family was very proud of her
being able to go to college, especially
Sarah’s dad, who worked at a local sawmill. He was
very happy that Sarah could choose a white-collar career after her studies.
After her first semester at Yale, Sarah was excited about her new group of friends who were all sophisticated and very helpful in terms of getting to know a whole different world far from home. A long day at school had passed and Sarah and two of her friends decided to get a cup of coffee at a close by Starbucks. Sarah’s friends, Ashley and Tamara, were all fired up when the three of them finally sat down with their extra whipped cream on top frappuccinos. Sarah was curious to know what happened especially because Ashley was obviously furious. Finally Ashley started talking, but she did it very quietly and made sure no one heard what she was saying. “My dad is a racist,” Ashley stated quietly but very determined. Sarah did not understand this at all because all she had heard from Ashley’s dad was quite the opposite from racist. “How is it possible your dad is a racist?” Sarah asked. It did not make sense at all that Ashley’s father Tom, was called a racist by her own daughter. Ashley continued her story and how she had overheard her parents talking about their third child. Ashley’s mother was pregnant and she only had a couple more months to go before her expected date. The awful thing, that brought it to Ashley’s mind that her father was a racist, was to be a suggestion made by Tom. Tom had said, that maybe Ashley’s mom, Laura, should become a stay at home mom until their third child would reach the age when she would go to school. Sarah did not understand what was so bad about this suggestion. Instead Sarah stated that it would be a good thing to raise children at home and that Ashley’s mom would get to downshift from work for a while.
Ashley’s blood pressure kept rising because of what Sarah had said. Ashley told Sarah how this type of suggestions are pushing women down, back to the kitchen, washing dishes and watching meaningless soap operas. Finally, when Sarah got to open her mouth again she told how her mom is a stay at home mom and that she used to have a job too. Sarah said that her mom was very happy staying home, taking care of the kids and the house. “But don’t you see how she is pushed to the corner? Your mom is not able to support herself because she doesn’t have a job and she is forced to do whatever your dad wants her to do.” Ashley continued her theory of housewives to Sarah. “I think my dad would love to be a stay at home dad,” Sarah said. Sarah explained how her dad was working long hours at the sawmill to support his family, even though his back was constantly hurting. Sarah’s dad was very happy to provide to his family because he knew that the kids would have a parent at home until they were at the age when they would go to school. Continuing her opinion, Sarah also told that her dad is going to cut some of the long hours after Sarah’s mom goes to work again.
After listening to Ashley and Sarah talking for a while, Tamara finally told her opinion. “Ashley, I think you have misunderstood the concept of a racist. I think the word you wanted to use is a chauvinist.” Tamara’s cheeky comment relaxed the conversation and Ashley’s feelings as well. In Tamara’s opinion Tom was just trying to be polite. Tamara continued; “I think we should rather be happy that your dad made that suggestion.” The girls continued their discussion but one thing was sure. Now Ashley understood that her dads’ suggestion was very generous of him. Though Ashley did get caught up in the idea that her rage was all very elitist. At least her parents had the choice of talking who gets to stay home and who goes to work for how long.
After her first semester at Yale, Sarah was excited about her new group of friends who were all sophisticated and very helpful in terms of getting to know a whole different world far from home. A long day at school had passed and Sarah and two of her friends decided to get a cup of coffee at a close by Starbucks. Sarah’s friends, Ashley and Tamara, were all fired up when the three of them finally sat down with their extra whipped cream on top frappuccinos. Sarah was curious to know what happened especially because Ashley was obviously furious. Finally Ashley started talking, but she did it very quietly and made sure no one heard what she was saying. “My dad is a racist,” Ashley stated quietly but very determined. Sarah did not understand this at all because all she had heard from Ashley’s dad was quite the opposite from racist. “How is it possible your dad is a racist?” Sarah asked. It did not make sense at all that Ashley’s father Tom, was called a racist by her own daughter. Ashley continued her story and how she had overheard her parents talking about their third child. Ashley’s mother was pregnant and she only had a couple more months to go before her expected date. The awful thing, that brought it to Ashley’s mind that her father was a racist, was to be a suggestion made by Tom. Tom had said, that maybe Ashley’s mom, Laura, should become a stay at home mom until their third child would reach the age when she would go to school. Sarah did not understand what was so bad about this suggestion. Instead Sarah stated that it would be a good thing to raise children at home and that Ashley’s mom would get to downshift from work for a while.
Ashley’s blood pressure kept rising because of what Sarah had said. Ashley told Sarah how this type of suggestions are pushing women down, back to the kitchen, washing dishes and watching meaningless soap operas. Finally, when Sarah got to open her mouth again she told how her mom is a stay at home mom and that she used to have a job too. Sarah said that her mom was very happy staying home, taking care of the kids and the house. “But don’t you see how she is pushed to the corner? Your mom is not able to support herself because she doesn’t have a job and she is forced to do whatever your dad wants her to do.” Ashley continued her theory of housewives to Sarah. “I think my dad would love to be a stay at home dad,” Sarah said. Sarah explained how her dad was working long hours at the sawmill to support his family, even though his back was constantly hurting. Sarah’s dad was very happy to provide to his family because he knew that the kids would have a parent at home until they were at the age when they would go to school. Continuing her opinion, Sarah also told that her dad is going to cut some of the long hours after Sarah’s mom goes to work again.
After listening to Ashley and Sarah talking for a while, Tamara finally told her opinion. “Ashley, I think you have misunderstood the concept of a racist. I think the word you wanted to use is a chauvinist.” Tamara’s cheeky comment relaxed the conversation and Ashley’s feelings as well. In Tamara’s opinion Tom was just trying to be polite. Tamara continued; “I think we should rather be happy that your dad made that suggestion.” The girls continued their discussion but one thing was sure. Now Ashley understood that her dads’ suggestion was very generous of him. Though Ashley did get caught up in the idea that her rage was all very elitist. At least her parents had the choice of talking who gets to stay home and who goes to work for how long.
ESSAY TWO, DRAFT ONE
Jani
Professor B.
English 113
10 October 2013
Professor B.
English 113
10 October 2013
Parenthood equality
Although
United States has made great strides in gender equality, there is s till room
for improvement. America could learn about parenthood in Finland because
child–rearing is shared more evenly between the parents and the society. The
Finnish social setting for parenthood is greatly desirable for United States.
Not just fathers, but politicians and businesses as well recognize the need to
share the workload from children in order to achieve gender equality.
In Finland there is a strong tradition for legislative support for gender equality. Finland was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote and after this, women have had a strong influence on how the country was build. In her article “The Secret to Finland's Success With Schools, Moms, Kids—and Everything” Olga Khazan interviews Ellen Marakowitz, lecturer from the Columbia University. Marakowitz argues that Finland’s system was build on solving problems that concern both, men and women, instead of just women’s rights.
Solving problems for both genders means that maternity or parenthood is not seen as an issue for women, but rather a challenge that requires fathers and the state to take part as well. In the United States a mother that just gave birth, is often times seen as an unproductive employee. This kind of thinking might easily lead into conclusions that women are of less value for the employers, because at some point most women will have children. In Finland the mother is seen as a person who needs rest and time with her newborn. To support this early parenthood Finland has developed several parts of welfare and laws that help the mother to achieve equal treatment among employers as well as equal financial standing as the provider for the family. Finnish mothers are entitled for 105 days of paid maternity leave. After the maternity leave, mothers or fathers can stay home with the baby for 158 days of paid parental leave. Paid maternity leave is very important to achieve the equality in income for the mother and the father. When women get back to work after their maternity leave, it is by law, that they will receive back the exact same position and salary when they left work for maternity leave. This kind of welfare and laws support an environment, where parenthood, rather than just motherhood, is seen as an important part of the society and not just a mandatory downtime from work.
Finnish culture is also very supportive for fathers to share the workload from the children. Fathers are encouraged to take a paid paternity leave for up to 56 days right after the birth of a child as well as to share the parental leave with the mother. Kathyrn Holmquist’s article “Finnishing school Childcare and parental leave structures in Finland are hugely desirable” argues that equally shared parenthood is a national concern in Finland. Holmquist gives an example of a committee that was put together in Finland in order to solve “[t]he fathers’ reluctancy to take up the parental and homecare leave entitled to them…” Later on, Holmquist states, this work contributed to changes in the leaves offered for fathers in order to make them more flexible. It is important that the fathers take part in child–rearing as much as mothers do. This way the understanding of parenthood has also reached the workplaces and it is just as regular for a father to stay on a paternity leave as it is for a mother to stay on maternity leave.
The understanding environment for parenthood has created another notable difference between the Finnish and the American social structures for women. In America it is quite usual that a mother of small children becomes a stay at home mother. In Finland, in the contrary, it is usual that a mother with small children goes to work or at least works part time. This difference is, again, possible because of laws and the social setting. Finnish employers are very welcoming for mothers to work part time and many do. This is also supported by the Finnish state that offers dirt–cheap daycare for any children over the age of nine months. Offering affordable daycare Finland encourages women to work instead of staying home. In the United States it is often the mother who stays home because of high cost on child daycare. When women have the actual opportunity to work instead of staying home they become more equal in the workplace as well.
Finnish men take an advantage of the equality in the workplace as well. Many fathers become stay at home dads or at least work part time in order to spend time with their children. Maruko Mami’s article “Finnish diplomat pushes child–rearing for dads” introduces the reader to Mikko Koivumaa and his fatherhood. Koivumaa, a Finnish diplomat in Japan, stayed home to take care of the kids while his wife was working a full time job. Later Koivumaa returned to work and now shares the household work with his wife. It takes a certain kind of culture for a man with a status as high as a diplomat to become a stay at home dad. But to make things even more of an example for America, it gets even better. Holmquist uses the former Finnish prime minister as an exceptional example of fatherhood. The former prime minister of Finland took six days of paternal leave right after the birth of his child. Six days is not a lot in general, but the power of the example is. When prime minister is able to take paternal leave so should every single father. Examples have played an important part for Finnish fathers to use their right for paternity leave.
In my opinion the United States really needs good examples and small changes in the environment of parenthood and especially fatherhood. Americans are most definitely in the top notch of gender equality even though parenthood could be shared more equally. Laws and regulations can be changed quite easily and fast. Instead it is the social setting that needs more work and time. This work could get boosted if a couple of well known fathers were to become stay at home dads, even for a while. Affordable daycare for children would as well increase the amount of women in the workforce. If families don’t have to think about the price for daycare, the need for either parent to stay home disappears as well. The first relief for equality between genders in parenthood could be a paid maternity leave. If Finland’s maternity leave feels too long for the American mindset, maternity leave could be shorter. It is not really the length of the maternity leave that matters but rather the fact that the society recognizes maternity as a valuable asset instead of a burden. This way of thinking will, without a doubt, support American fathers to participate in child–rearing and filling up the parks with dads and trolleys like their Finnish counterparts have already done.
In Finland there is a strong tradition for legislative support for gender equality. Finland was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote and after this, women have had a strong influence on how the country was build. In her article “The Secret to Finland's Success With Schools, Moms, Kids—and Everything” Olga Khazan interviews Ellen Marakowitz, lecturer from the Columbia University. Marakowitz argues that Finland’s system was build on solving problems that concern both, men and women, instead of just women’s rights.
Solving problems for both genders means that maternity or parenthood is not seen as an issue for women, but rather a challenge that requires fathers and the state to take part as well. In the United States a mother that just gave birth, is often times seen as an unproductive employee. This kind of thinking might easily lead into conclusions that women are of less value for the employers, because at some point most women will have children. In Finland the mother is seen as a person who needs rest and time with her newborn. To support this early parenthood Finland has developed several parts of welfare and laws that help the mother to achieve equal treatment among employers as well as equal financial standing as the provider for the family. Finnish mothers are entitled for 105 days of paid maternity leave. After the maternity leave, mothers or fathers can stay home with the baby for 158 days of paid parental leave. Paid maternity leave is very important to achieve the equality in income for the mother and the father. When women get back to work after their maternity leave, it is by law, that they will receive back the exact same position and salary when they left work for maternity leave. This kind of welfare and laws support an environment, where parenthood, rather than just motherhood, is seen as an important part of the society and not just a mandatory downtime from work.
Finnish culture is also very supportive for fathers to share the workload from the children. Fathers are encouraged to take a paid paternity leave for up to 56 days right after the birth of a child as well as to share the parental leave with the mother. Kathyrn Holmquist’s article “Finnishing school Childcare and parental leave structures in Finland are hugely desirable” argues that equally shared parenthood is a national concern in Finland. Holmquist gives an example of a committee that was put together in Finland in order to solve “[t]he fathers’ reluctancy to take up the parental and homecare leave entitled to them…” Later on, Holmquist states, this work contributed to changes in the leaves offered for fathers in order to make them more flexible. It is important that the fathers take part in child–rearing as much as mothers do. This way the understanding of parenthood has also reached the workplaces and it is just as regular for a father to stay on a paternity leave as it is for a mother to stay on maternity leave.
The understanding environment for parenthood has created another notable difference between the Finnish and the American social structures for women. In America it is quite usual that a mother of small children becomes a stay at home mother. In Finland, in the contrary, it is usual that a mother with small children goes to work or at least works part time. This difference is, again, possible because of laws and the social setting. Finnish employers are very welcoming for mothers to work part time and many do. This is also supported by the Finnish state that offers dirt–cheap daycare for any children over the age of nine months. Offering affordable daycare Finland encourages women to work instead of staying home. In the United States it is often the mother who stays home because of high cost on child daycare. When women have the actual opportunity to work instead of staying home they become more equal in the workplace as well.
Finnish men take an advantage of the equality in the workplace as well. Many fathers become stay at home dads or at least work part time in order to spend time with their children. Maruko Mami’s article “Finnish diplomat pushes child–rearing for dads” introduces the reader to Mikko Koivumaa and his fatherhood. Koivumaa, a Finnish diplomat in Japan, stayed home to take care of the kids while his wife was working a full time job. Later Koivumaa returned to work and now shares the household work with his wife. It takes a certain kind of culture for a man with a status as high as a diplomat to become a stay at home dad. But to make things even more of an example for America, it gets even better. Holmquist uses the former Finnish prime minister as an exceptional example of fatherhood. The former prime minister of Finland took six days of paternal leave right after the birth of his child. Six days is not a lot in general, but the power of the example is. When prime minister is able to take paternal leave so should every single father. Examples have played an important part for Finnish fathers to use their right for paternity leave.
In my opinion the United States really needs good examples and small changes in the environment of parenthood and especially fatherhood. Americans are most definitely in the top notch of gender equality even though parenthood could be shared more equally. Laws and regulations can be changed quite easily and fast. Instead it is the social setting that needs more work and time. This work could get boosted if a couple of well known fathers were to become stay at home dads, even for a while. Affordable daycare for children would as well increase the amount of women in the workforce. If families don’t have to think about the price for daycare, the need for either parent to stay home disappears as well. The first relief for equality between genders in parenthood could be a paid maternity leave. If Finland’s maternity leave feels too long for the American mindset, maternity leave could be shorter. It is not really the length of the maternity leave that matters but rather the fact that the society recognizes maternity as a valuable asset instead of a burden. This way of thinking will, without a doubt, support American fathers to participate in child–rearing and filling up the parks with dads and trolleys like their Finnish counterparts have already done.
Works Cited
"Finnishing
School Childcare and Parental Leave Structures in Finland are Hugely Desirable,
Kathyrn Holmquist
Discovers." Irish Times: 12. Mar 31 1999. ProQuest. Web. 4
Oct. 2013.
Maruko,
Mami. "Finnish Diplomat Pushes Child-Rearing for Dads." McClatchy
– Tribune Business News Jun
18 2013. ProQuest. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.
Khazan,
Olga. “The
Secret to Finland's Success With Schools, Moms, Kids—and Everything.” The Atlantic:
Jul 11 2013. The Atlantic. Web. 13 Oct. 2013
Maruko, Mami. "Finnish Diplomat Pushes Child-Rearing for Dads." McClatchy – Tribune Business News Jun 18 2013. ProQuest. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Benefits for Families with Children. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, 9 Mar. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
ESSAY TWO, DRAFT TWO
Jani
Professor B.
English 113
10 October 2013
Professor B.
English 113
10 October 2013
Parenthood equality
In my childhood there was no parent, mother, or father for that matter, who was a stay at home parent. All of my friend’s parents worked as well and we thought no more about that. Years later when I came to America the first time I was amazed of the amount of stay at home mothers. Stay at home parent was not a new concept for me, but the American way seemed to be a stay at home mother with an emphasis on mother, rather than on parent. Although United States has made great strides in gender equality, there is s till room for improvement. America could learn about parenthood in Finland because child–rearing is shared more evenly between the parents and the society. The Finnish social setting for parenthood is greatly desirable for United States. Not just fathers, but the society in whole recognize the need to share the workload from children in order to achieve gender equality.
In Finland there is a strong tradition for legislative support for gender equality. Finland was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote and after this, women have had a strong influence on how the country was build. In her article “The Secret to Finland's Success With Schools, Moms, Kids—and Everything” Olga Khazan interviews Ellen Marakowitz, lecturer from the Columbia University. Marakowitz argues that Finland’s system was build on solving problems that concern both, men and women, instead of just women’s rights. Solving problems for both genders means that maternity or parenthood is not seen as an issue for women, but rather a challenge that requires fathers and the state to take part as well. In the United States a mother that just gave birth, is often times seen as an unproductive employee. This kind of thinking might easily lead into conclusions that women are of less value for the employers, because at some point most women will have children.
A mother in Finland is seen as a person who needs rest and time with her newborn. To support this early parenthood Finland has developed several parts of welfare and laws that help the mother to achieve equal treatment among employers as well as equal financial standing as the provider for the family. According to the The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Finnish mothers are entitled for 105 days of paid maternity leave and after the maternity leave, mothers or fathers can stay home with the baby for 158 days of paid parental allowance. Paid maternity leave is very important to achieve the equality in income for the mother and the father. When women get back to work after their maternity leave, it is by law, that they will receive back the exact same position and salary when they left work for maternity leave. This kind of welfare and laws support an environment, where parenthood, rather than just motherhood, is seen as an important part of the society and not just a mandatory downtime from work.
Finnish culture is also very supportive for fathers to share the workload from the children. Fathers are encouraged to take a paid paternity leave, which according to The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, is for up to 56 days right after the birth of a child as well as to share the parental leave with the mother. Kathyrn Holmquist’s article “Finnishing school Childcare and parental leave structures in Finland are hugely desirable” argues that equally shared parenthood is a national concern in Finland. Holmquist gives an example of a committee that was put together in Finland in order to solve “[t]he fathers’ reluctancy to take up the parental and homecare leave entitled to them…” Later on, Holmquist states, this work contributed to changes in the leaves offered for fathers in order to make them more flexible. It is important that the fathers take part in child–rearing as much as mothers do. This way the understanding of parenthood has also reached the workplaces and it is just as regular for a father to stay on a paternity leave as it is for a mother to stay on maternity leave.
The understanding environment for parenthood has created another notable difference between the Finnish and the American social structures for women. In America it is quite usual that a mother of small children becomes a stay at home mother. In Finland, in the contrary, it is usual that a mother with small children goes to work or at least works part time. This difference is, again, possible because of laws and the social setting. Finnish employers are very welcoming for mothers to work part time and many do. This is also supported by the Finnish state that offers dirt–cheap daycare for any children over the age of nine months. My personal experience, for example, is that a ballet teacher can easily teach only half of the lessons she did before she had a child. This is what a close family friend of mine did. Offering affordable daycare Finland encourages women to work instead of staying home. In the United States it is often the mother who stays home because of high cost on child daycare. There is nothing wrong with the American system of totally private childcare, but it narrows the options especially for middle-class women to work part time. When women have the actual opportunity to work instead of staying home because of high priced daycare they become more equal in the workplace as well.
Finnish men take an advantage of the equality in the workplace as well. Many fathers become stay at home dads or at least work part time in order to spend time with their children. Maruko Mami’s article “Finnish diplomat pushes child–rearing for dads” introduces the reader to Mikko Koivumaa and his fatherhood. Koivumaa, a Finnish diplomat in Japan, stayed home to take care of the kids while his wife was working a full time job. Later Koivumaa returned to work and now shares the household work with his wife. It takes a certain kind of culture for a man with a status as high as a diplomat to become a stay at home dad. But to make things even more of an example for America, it gets even better. Holmquist uses the former Finnish prime minister as an exceptional example of fatherhood. The former prime minister of Finland took six days of paternal leave right after the birth of his child. Six days is not a lot in general, but the power of the example is. When prime minister is able to take paternal leave so should every single father. Examples have played an important part for Finnish fathers to use their right for paternity leave. Another factor is, that laws protect the father’s right to take on paternity leave or stay home to take care of a sick child. Examples and laws have also lead to a situation where the workplaces are understandable and willing to create flexible schedules for for fathers and morhers.
In my opinion the United States really needs good examples and small changes in the environment of parenthood and especially fatherhood. Americans are most definitely in the top notch of gender equality even though parenthood could be shared more equally. Laws and regulations can be changed quite easily and fast. Instead it is the social setting that needs more work and time. This work could get boosted if a couple of well known fathers were to become stay at home dads, even for a while. Affordable daycare for children would as well increase the amount of women in the workforce. If families don’t have to think about the price for daycare, the need for either parent to stay home disappears as well. The first relief for equality between genders in parenthood could be a paid maternity leave. If Finland’s maternity leave feels too long for the American mindset, maternity leave could be shorter. It is not really the length of the maternity leave that matters but rather the fact that the society recognizes maternity as a valuable asset instead of a burden. This way of thinking will, without a doubt, support American fathers to participate in child–rearing and filling up the parks with dads and trolleys like their Finnish counterparts have already done.
In Finland there is a strong tradition for legislative support for gender equality. Finland was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote and after this, women have had a strong influence on how the country was build. In her article “The Secret to Finland's Success With Schools, Moms, Kids—and Everything” Olga Khazan interviews Ellen Marakowitz, lecturer from the Columbia University. Marakowitz argues that Finland’s system was build on solving problems that concern both, men and women, instead of just women’s rights. Solving problems for both genders means that maternity or parenthood is not seen as an issue for women, but rather a challenge that requires fathers and the state to take part as well. In the United States a mother that just gave birth, is often times seen as an unproductive employee. This kind of thinking might easily lead into conclusions that women are of less value for the employers, because at some point most women will have children.
A mother in Finland is seen as a person who needs rest and time with her newborn. To support this early parenthood Finland has developed several parts of welfare and laws that help the mother to achieve equal treatment among employers as well as equal financial standing as the provider for the family. According to the The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Finnish mothers are entitled for 105 days of paid maternity leave and after the maternity leave, mothers or fathers can stay home with the baby for 158 days of paid parental allowance. Paid maternity leave is very important to achieve the equality in income for the mother and the father. When women get back to work after their maternity leave, it is by law, that they will receive back the exact same position and salary when they left work for maternity leave. This kind of welfare and laws support an environment, where parenthood, rather than just motherhood, is seen as an important part of the society and not just a mandatory downtime from work.
Finnish culture is also very supportive for fathers to share the workload from the children. Fathers are encouraged to take a paid paternity leave, which according to The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, is for up to 56 days right after the birth of a child as well as to share the parental leave with the mother. Kathyrn Holmquist’s article “Finnishing school Childcare and parental leave structures in Finland are hugely desirable” argues that equally shared parenthood is a national concern in Finland. Holmquist gives an example of a committee that was put together in Finland in order to solve “[t]he fathers’ reluctancy to take up the parental and homecare leave entitled to them…” Later on, Holmquist states, this work contributed to changes in the leaves offered for fathers in order to make them more flexible. It is important that the fathers take part in child–rearing as much as mothers do. This way the understanding of parenthood has also reached the workplaces and it is just as regular for a father to stay on a paternity leave as it is for a mother to stay on maternity leave.
The understanding environment for parenthood has created another notable difference between the Finnish and the American social structures for women. In America it is quite usual that a mother of small children becomes a stay at home mother. In Finland, in the contrary, it is usual that a mother with small children goes to work or at least works part time. This difference is, again, possible because of laws and the social setting. Finnish employers are very welcoming for mothers to work part time and many do. This is also supported by the Finnish state that offers dirt–cheap daycare for any children over the age of nine months. My personal experience, for example, is that a ballet teacher can easily teach only half of the lessons she did before she had a child. This is what a close family friend of mine did. Offering affordable daycare Finland encourages women to work instead of staying home. In the United States it is often the mother who stays home because of high cost on child daycare. There is nothing wrong with the American system of totally private childcare, but it narrows the options especially for middle-class women to work part time. When women have the actual opportunity to work instead of staying home because of high priced daycare they become more equal in the workplace as well.
Finnish men take an advantage of the equality in the workplace as well. Many fathers become stay at home dads or at least work part time in order to spend time with their children. Maruko Mami’s article “Finnish diplomat pushes child–rearing for dads” introduces the reader to Mikko Koivumaa and his fatherhood. Koivumaa, a Finnish diplomat in Japan, stayed home to take care of the kids while his wife was working a full time job. Later Koivumaa returned to work and now shares the household work with his wife. It takes a certain kind of culture for a man with a status as high as a diplomat to become a stay at home dad. But to make things even more of an example for America, it gets even better. Holmquist uses the former Finnish prime minister as an exceptional example of fatherhood. The former prime minister of Finland took six days of paternal leave right after the birth of his child. Six days is not a lot in general, but the power of the example is. When prime minister is able to take paternal leave so should every single father. Examples have played an important part for Finnish fathers to use their right for paternity leave. Another factor is, that laws protect the father’s right to take on paternity leave or stay home to take care of a sick child. Examples and laws have also lead to a situation where the workplaces are understandable and willing to create flexible schedules for for fathers and morhers.
In my opinion the United States really needs good examples and small changes in the environment of parenthood and especially fatherhood. Americans are most definitely in the top notch of gender equality even though parenthood could be shared more equally. Laws and regulations can be changed quite easily and fast. Instead it is the social setting that needs more work and time. This work could get boosted if a couple of well known fathers were to become stay at home dads, even for a while. Affordable daycare for children would as well increase the amount of women in the workforce. If families don’t have to think about the price for daycare, the need for either parent to stay home disappears as well. The first relief for equality between genders in parenthood could be a paid maternity leave. If Finland’s maternity leave feels too long for the American mindset, maternity leave could be shorter. It is not really the length of the maternity leave that matters but rather the fact that the society recognizes maternity as a valuable asset instead of a burden. This way of thinking will, without a doubt, support American fathers to participate in child–rearing and filling up the parks with dads and trolleys like their Finnish counterparts have already done.
Works Cited
"Finnishing School Childcare and Parental Leave Structures in Finland are Hugely Desirable, Kathyrn Holmquist Discovers." Irish Times: 12. Mar. 31 1999. ProQuest. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.
Khazan, Olga. “The Secret to Finland's Success With Schools, Moms, Kids—and Everything.” The Atlantic: Jul 11 2013. The Atlantic. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.
Maruko, Mami. "Finnish Diplomat Pushes Child-Rearing for Dads." McClatchy – Tribune Business News Jun 18 2013. ProQuest. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Benefits for Families with Children. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, 9 Mar. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
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