Page 49 - DIVA_7_2004_No.16

Some reflections on the conge maternelle and the Swiss mentality

been born with a supreme right p.m., you should be home at
to forsake their children and least an hour before in order to
wives in their quest for fame and take as much part in the daily
fortune, as they are destined routine as you can. 'Weekend
almost from birth to be the dads" are an unknown concept.
breadwinners of the family. The responsibility of fatherhood
True, most men earn a higher is not to be taken lightly. Where
salary than women, but what are Swiss men brag about their long
the real reasons behind this? working hours, Scandinavian
fathers will instead brag about
Coming from one of the reading fairy tales to their child-
Scandinavian countries, my cul- ren every night at bedtime.
ture is one where the attitude
towards these matters is signifi- In these respects, Switzerland
cantly different from that found and most EU countries for that
in Switzerland and the rest of matter, are decades behind the
Europe. In my region of origin, northern part of Europe. With
more than 80% of women work, childcare being defined as a pri-
and still we maintain one of the vate matter, and an austere and
highest birth rates in Europe. highly chauvinist attitude among
This is possible due to two fac- even the younger male genera-
tors. tion, this is no surprise.
However, if true equality is to be
First of all, our governments achieved these factors have to
have realized that equal oppor- be changed. To me, it is a lau-
tunity is as much their respon- ghable matter that a large group
sibility as it is a personal mat- of the (male) population still
anctio
ter. Based on this approach, opposes maternity leave sanctio-
ned
maternity leave of one year with ned bylaw, and even more stran-
Some time ago, Geneva introdu- professional and home life in an 80% of the salary has been ge that it should be limited to
ced a fourteen-week conge increasingly demanding society. implemented, allowing women only fourteen weeks. How can
maternelle (maternity leave) to Most of these articles seem to to care for their newborn you possibly put a fourteen-week
allow women who are giving focus on the fact that although babies without having to worry baby away for ten hours a day in
birth to take a minimum of time more and more women want a about finding a crèche or nanny a crèche? You only have to consi-
off work while (hopefully) retai- professional life, they are only after a few weeks. In addition, der the fact that breast-feeding is
ning their jobs and their salary able to pursue these goals as far men enjoy the possibility to the best method of nurturing
benefits. This was considered a as their obligations at home per- share these twelve months, newborns to realize the impossi-
significant step for a Swiss can- mit-meaning that they should be since "maternity" leave is freely bility of limiting maternity leave
ton, but not necessarily in the careful to maintain a balance transferable between the to less than four measly months.
right direction according to the between child and family care mother and the father. Also, the one-day leave that
opinion of a large part of Swiss and their working life. Furthermore, it is the aim of the fathers are entitled to at most
society. Issues concerning governing powers that crèches Swiss enterprises is, in my eyes,
maternity leave, childcare and In addition to the virtually non- should be available to everyone, a blatant joke and an insult.
family planning are still conside- existant social benefits for at affordable prices. Combined, What about four weeks manda-
red personal matters in this mothers in Swiss professional these factors ensure a safe and tory leave, with the possibility to
country, and there are strict society, there is another pro- secure environment .for both work reduced hours or even sha-
boundaries between professio- blem related to the same pater- parents and children, without ring the next few months with the
nal life and life outside work. nal heritage of this region: the the implied message to women child's mother?
attitude of Swiss men towards that once they give birth they
Women, in particular, seem to childcare and family values. In should strongly consider Many will argue that the cost to
be the victims of this attitude- the above-mentioned press arti-
'staying out of business". enterprises and society would
something which is reflected in cles, little or nothing was said be far too high to implement
the occasional press articles about men's obligations as far The second factor is the attitude such schemes, but this is not a
focusing on the need for women as children and family life is of men, which differs radically valid argument. After all, we're
to find a balance between their concerned. Men seem to have from that of their Swiss or EU here with the ultimate goal to
counterparts. Most men in improve conditions for all of us,
ro
Scandinavian countries are pre- and we would all benefit from
pared providing better opportunities
pared to take the responsibility
that fatherhood implies, by for women to maintain their
devoting a significant amount of career prospects. Besides, both
time to their children. It is as the children and their fathers
common to see dad picking up could definitely benefit from a
his kids at a crèche as having shift in the childcare responsibi-
mum do so, and the idea of lities from the feminine to the
staying in the office until 9 p.m. masculine sex!
is frowned upon by most fathers.
If your child goes to sleep at 7 Trond Stroemme

7.2004 Diva 47