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| List of Figures | |
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| List of Tables | |
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| Preface | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| The Author | |
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| Introduction: What Have We Done to Our Daughters? | |
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| Maternity Leave-An Unresolved Conversation? | |
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| Are Maternity Leave Expectations and Realities Mismatched? | |
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| References | |
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| Background: Understanding the Legislative Intent and Symbolism of Public Policies | |
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| In the Beginning: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act | |
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| The Tax Code and Child Care and Child Tax Credits | |
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| The Promises and Problems of the Family and Medical Leave Act | |
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| The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | |
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| The Economic, Social, and Symbolic Implications of Maternity Leave Policies | |
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| Appendix | |
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| References | |
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| The Evolution and Devolution of Maternity Leave as an Employee Benefit | |
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| Trends in Birthrates, Fertility Rates, Employment Patterns, and Use of Maternity Leave Benefits | |
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| Types of Maternity Leave Taken-Paid and Unpaid | |
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| Types of Paternity and Parental Leave Policies | |
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| Examples of Maternity Leave Policies | |
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| Antenatal Leave and Short-Term Disability Leave | |
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| No Leave and Permanent Exit from the Workplace | |
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| References | |
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| Women's Health Care and the Workplace | |
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| Health Insurance for Women of Childbearing Age | |
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| Fertility Issues | |
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| Intended and Unintended Pregnancies | |
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| Pregnancy and Work | |
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| Pregnancy and Factors Impacting Infant Mortality | |
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| Delivery | |
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| Maternity Leave and Infant Mortality | |
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| Mother's Return to Work and Breast-Feeding | |
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| Well-Baby Doctor Visits | |
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| Postpartum Issues | |
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| Optimal Length of Maternity Leave | |
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| The Baby's Perspective | |
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| The Need for a Holistic Approach to Women's Health | |
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| References | |
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| Research Approach | |
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| The Methodology: Why Qualitative Research? | |
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| Analysis of the Interviews | |
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| Study Limitations | |
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| The Participants: Who Are These Women? | |
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| Description of the In-Depth Interview Questions | |
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| References | |
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| The Interviews: Profiles of Women and Their Perceptions and Experiences | |
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| Employees of Public Universities | |
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| Employees of Private Universities I83 | |
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| Employees of the Pharmaceutical Industry | |
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| References | |
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| The Themes: How Women Cope with the Myths and Realities of Maternity Leave | |
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| Inconsistencies in Administration of Maternity Leave Policies | |
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| It Is All in the Timing | |
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| Transition Back to Work | |
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| Child Care | |
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| Breast-Feeding, Pumping, and the Workplace | |
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| Unmet Needs and Professional Concerns | |
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| The Other Voices | |
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| Students Who Are Mothers: Is It Better to Have Children at a Younger Age? | |
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| Fathers Who Utilized Paternity Leave | |
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| Challenges Faced by Same-Sex Couples Who Decide to Become Parents | |
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| Women Who Decided Not to Have Children | |
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| Unsupportive versus Supportive Colleagues-The Stereotypes and Biases | |
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| Administrative Views-Rules versus Discretion | |
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| Appendix | |
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| References | |
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| An International Comparison-The Other Kingdoms | |
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| What Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, and Parental Leave Benefits Are Offered in Other Countries? | |
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| Why Is the United States Lagging behind Other Countries in Providing Maternity Leave Benefits? | |
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| References | |
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| Conclusion: Can the Fairy Tale Be Realized or Should It Be Rewritten? | |
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| What Are the Obstacles to a Happy Ending for Our Daughters? | |
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| What Can We Reasonably Expect to Change within Our Organizations? | |
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| What Is Best for Society? | |
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| Restoring the Fairy Tale | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |