American Maternity Leave Policies from an Economic and Sociological Perspective

Abstract

For this paper, I utilize my majors in Economics and Anthropology/Sociology and my concentration in Public Policy and Urban Affairs to discuss American maternity leave policies. This paper aims to show the complexities of maternity leave policies, from an economic and sociological perspective. Using these perspectives, I propose policy changes to better the position of women and families in the United States. This paper includes a discussion over an article that changed my view on the status of the United States, in comparison to the rest of the world. I also include an extensive literature review, organizing existing research on maternity leave policies. The topics include the science of maternity leave, women in the workforce, economics of maternity leave, and maternity leave policies around the world. Next, I comment on upcoming American policy decisions. Finally, I include my own policy proposal that I created as an intern at the YWCA of Kalamazoo.