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| Babygate
ISBN: 9781558618626
Platform/Publisher: Project MUSE / The Feminist Press
Digital rights: Users: Unlimited; Printing: Chapters; Download: Chapters
Subjects: Discrimination in employment; Parental leave; Working mothers; Pregnant women; Mothers;
At the start of this how-to guide, Bakst, Taubman, and Gedmark, legal experts for workplace fairness advocacy group A Better Balance, announce that they want to reach a broader audience for the topic. Arranged in chronological order from pregnancy to parenthood, this well-organized work begins with an assessment of U.S. policy in comparison to other countries, and finds that U.S. policy is often lacking when it comes to supporting pregnancy and parenting. Bias against pregnant women and mothers, the authors claim, is still common despite anti-discrimination laws. They walk readers through the "murky depths" of the Family Leave Act of 1993, noting that many parents are excluded due to complex eligibility requirements for unpaid leave. On the bright side, the authors report that some states have passed supplemental maternity and paternity laws, and they include a useful state-by-state guide to help readers identify their rights. Practical information on such topics as how and when to inform an employer of a pregnancy, and how to write a letter requesting pregnancy accommodations at work, is also included. The authors urge that working parents need to do their "homework" on their legal rights; this book will, no doubt, prove to be a valuable resource. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Dina Bakst, co-president of A Better Balance, cofounded the organization to advance the legal rights of pregnant women and caregivers in the American workplace. Bakst's New York Times op-ed, "Pregnant and Pushed Out of a Job," inspired the introduction of the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. A veteran attorney and advocate dedicated to women's rights and economic justice, Dina lives in New York City with her husband and three daughters.
Phoebe Taubman is a senior staff attorney with A Better Balance, where she works to combat discrimination and advance family-friendly public policies at the local, state, and federal level. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.
Elizabeth Gedmark is an attorney with A Better Balance, and dedicates her time to empowering working families. Originally from Kentucky, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband. |
