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To emphasize how truly backward our society is...let's finish with a little quiz. Let's do it like Jeopardy.
In 1990, this government required companies to give a new mother a year's leave at 90% pay.
Answer: What was Sweden?
This country provided nurseries for most children over eighteen months.
Answer: What was Sweden?
Nearly half of the children under three in this country were in publicly financed nurseries, and nearly 95% of children three to six were (and are).
Answer: What is Denmark?
In this country, 95% of children aged three to five are in preschool.
Answer: What is France?
This country provides care for one quarter of children under three in wholly or partially subsidized nurseries.
Answer: What is France?
In 1984, this country gave workers twelve weeks of maternity leave with pay.
Answer: What is Brazil? (Yes, Brazil!)
This country mandated eight weeks of maternity leave WITH PAY.
Answer: What is Kenya? (You heard us, Kenya!)
This country provided none of these things; instead, to help mothers and small children, its magazines featured profiles of rich celebrity moms who could show women how to do it all.
Answer: What was the United States?
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Susan J. Douglas (The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined All Women)