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If you want to force an even split or not depends on if you see the system as something that enables people to make choices that are good, or something that mak
by rags2riches 6y ago
If you want to force an even split or not depends on if you see the system as something that enables people to make choices that are good, or something that makes them do what you think is good (for the parents in question or for the society in general).
I know a couple that had two children. He wanted a third child. She wanted a PhD. The current Swedish system enabled them to have a child and let him take virtually all the leave while she finished her PhD. But some social engineers would rather not let them have that choice, because the aim is a perfect 50/50 split for all couples in a column of a report somewhere.
(Or even worse, they would be fine with this particular case, but would object if it was she that wanted the third kid and he that wanted a PhD, because a 50/50 split in aggregate also looks pretty good, and this would work towards that in the present situation...)
- Ericson2314 6y agoUgh, more myopic individualism. How about this: after we mandate even split and the culture changes, we give parents back the right to allocate it as they see fit. Hell, if we want to converge faster and get back to parental choice quicker, we might mandate 3:2 men's vs women's paid leave. Annecodes like your female PhD candidate story are no basis for determining policy.
- rags2riches 6y agoSure, call it individualism to view people like my friends as the ends of your policy. What shall we call it when the policy treats them as a means to some other greater end?
- Ericson2314 6y ago> What shall we call it when the policy treats them as a means to some other greater end? Sacrifices for the greater good.
- matsemann 6y agoNo, the aim isn't "to fill a column of a report somewhere". That's just unnecessary snark from you. It's a difficult thing to balance. Ideally one should be able to split as wanted, based on one's life situation. But when one is free to choose, one often can find that the freedom is only imaginary. There will be pressure from society/employers/etc to do it a certain way. Lots of countries where it's expected that the father forego all paternity leave, or his career at the company will be done.
- rags2riches 6y agoYes, that was snarky. Still, it's not expected that Swedish fathers forego their leave and Sweden has not mandated a 50/50 split yet. Maybe it's worth treading lightly as we're clearly heading in the right direction. Then some other couple like my friends won't have to be eggs for the impatient makers of the equality omelette.