The author does have a side discussion that covers feminist rhetoric, the way married couples in France and America interact and what all that has to do with child rearing. She hasn't actually discussed the criticisms I've heard in the past of what all that enjoyment of life is costing France in terms of productivity, and in light of what been going on in Greece, I'm a little surprised more people reviewing the book aren't drawing comparisons.
The discussion covers the fact that by any objective measure, American feminists are both angrier and more successful than their French sisters, at least in terms of income. The anger is at their husbands who do not meet expectations of sharing the domestic workload irrespective of nationality. The difference for French women is that they have no expectation of their husbands actually taking an equal part, whatever he might profess as an article of faith because men are that other species. Well, they have no expectation of 50/50 split. I think the French women who land with more than 60 or 70% of the domestic workload are just as angry as their American sisters.
Despite the slightly better pay equity in America, the author does make the point that the French state does way more to make balancing work outside the home and motherhood possible than the US of A, which isn't saying much, as anything is more than the US of A does at the federal level. Other than the health care, France subsidizes childcare nearly from birth to age two (the creche system,) then preschool (ecole maternelle) and eventually university for those who qualify. It isn't clear to me whether there's a fee for some of the intermediate education like there is in other parts of Europe.
If I were a mom, it's entirely possible I'd be willing to take a wage hit if I got real support for quality child care. Given that the creche system involves graduate work for the caregivers and chefs for crying out loud, I'd say there's some quality child care going on there.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2012-03-04 01:45 am (UTC)The discussion covers the fact that by any objective measure, American feminists are both angrier and more successful than their French sisters, at least in terms of income. The anger is at their husbands who do not meet expectations of sharing the domestic workload irrespective of nationality. The difference for French women is that they have no expectation of their husbands actually taking an equal part, whatever he might profess as an article of faith because men are that other species. Well, they have no expectation of 50/50 split. I think the French women who land with more than 60 or 70% of the domestic workload are just as angry as their American sisters.
Despite the slightly better pay equity in America, the author does make the point that the French state does way more to make balancing work outside the home and motherhood possible than the US of A, which isn't saying much, as anything is more than the US of A does at the federal level. Other than the health care, France subsidizes childcare nearly from birth to age two (the creche system,) then preschool (ecole maternelle) and eventually university for those who qualify. It isn't clear to me whether there's a fee for some of the intermediate education like there is in other parts of Europe.
If I were a mom, it's entirely possible I'd be willing to take a wage hit if I got real support for quality child care. Given that the creche system involves graduate work for the caregivers and chefs for crying out loud, I'd say there's some quality child care going on there.