The Push for Equitable and Paid Maternity Leave in the United States
The overall goal of this project is to address the gaps in maternity leave policies in the United States and propose steps to improve them. I aim to advocate for policies that enable postpartum mothers to thrive through the set of policy recommendations, a policy paper, and a legislative brief presented to a State Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid I did all of the work that I set out to accomplish and believe that I did achieve my goal of creating a set of well researched policies that ensure equitable, accessible, and supportive maternity leave benefits. My project has great relevance outside of my own passion. It addresses a critical gap in U.S. policy that impacts millions of families across the country. The lack of federal maternity leave is not only a matter of public health but also one of economic stability and child well-being. By advocating for stronger maternity leave policies, this project contributes to the broader conversation on social justice, economic equity, and healthcare reform that goes far beyond my personal passion for maternal care. This project holds significance for policymakers, healthcare providers, birth givers, families, and the public at large. I have contributed to the fields of study that my project fits into in multiple ways. First, it fits into politics as I created five different policy recommendations based on research done and passed them off to a state representative. Second, it fits in the scope of public health as my policy paper exposes how inadequate maternity leave policies harm the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of mothers and their children.