[Soixante-Retard]

Again, the issue is whether or not the man should also take time off.

If that is the issue at hand then we have no disagreement. Men and women do take time off, it is just that in most US states they are not paid.

Now, why do the women, on average, take time off instead of the men since neither men nor women have paid paternity/maternity leave? It is, after all, a decision between the couple as to who sacrifices time off work to take care of their children.

[Pants-of-dog]

If that is the issue at hand then we have no disagreement. Men and women do take time off, it is just that in most US states they are not paid.

Now, why do the women, on average, take time off instead of the men since neither men nor women have paid paternity/maternity leave? It is, after all, a decision between the couple as to who sacrifices time off work to take care of their children.

Because of the ingrained sexist assumption that it is the woman's job to do so.

In more enlightened nations, both parents would get paid parental leave.

[Magnetonium]

There is indeed a wage gap between men and women, but one factor being completely ignored is that men are very aggressive in getting what they want - better jobs and bigger paychecks. Women are often overly passive, and may be reluctant to press for pay increases and/or moving up. Male psyche is suited for competition and getting ahead, and women should try to do that more in the Western world. I've seen plenty of women making big bucks, so you cannot criticize unequal rights between men and women in the Western democratic countries. Opportunities are present here for everyone to make good living. If anything, many organizations actually present more opportunities to women and members of visible minorities just for the sake of public image and "equality". In reality, I don't recall women in the West intentionally being underpaid or under-promoted simply because they are women.

On the other hand, pregnant women are left behind sometimes because fierce business practices can put them behind when it comes to income and work. This issue has been addressed to some degree, and will need to be further improved to make sure that women are not discriminated against in the workplace just because they need maternity leave.

Women's rights in other parts of the world is a totally different story.

[Godstud]

In more enlightened nations, both parents would get paid parental leave.

I believe in Canada(or so I have heard) you can get it. You have a year to split between one or both parents, although in some places they only allow the man a few weeks off.

[SE23]

Women have made huge advances in the past few decades, but they are still set back in many ways. One being in their pay checks. Obama is passing the Paycheck Fairness Act in June, however will this mean equal respect for women in the workplace as well? Will companies truly follow through with the law?

Women have always had benefits and privileges in society and overall power albeit subtle. You will never attain equality, because there isn't equality between the sexes or genders, biology states economic factors, skill sets and conditions vastly overall (although there are room for exceptions). You can't keep on social engineering and forcing something which isn't natural. I have seen this first hand in my career exploits; men overall work longer hours, more dangerous conditions and take on extra tasks, were as women do not, in some cases they think they are "too good" for it.

You may say this is "biological determinism" but we have to talk about practicalities here not theory and the land of should".
I would say that the constant victim status being held over to women, is a privilege in itself, chivalry and preferential treatments are all bad claims according to feminists, yet they use this over and over again to get their entitlements.

I would say how women are on a whole receiving better grades and education than males along with affirmative action is more damaging to society and economic growth in the long run. If you are flooding the professional workforce with people who aren't going to put in the longer hours and take on challenges or avoid competition and sexism on the grounds of "lack of respect' then the system will be futile, respect is earned I am afraid !

This is a male concept, as males haven't been able to fall back on their uterus as having them perceived as being valuable to society. Men unless they have high status or something along the lines of their actions, will determine whether or not they will mate and pass on their genes.

[SE23]

There is indeed a wage gap between men and women, but one factor being completely ignored is that men are very aggressive in getting what they want - better jobs and bigger paychecks. Women are often overly passive, and may be reluctant to press for pay increases and/or moving up. Male psyche is suited for competition and getting ahead, and women should try to do that more in the Western world. I've seen plenty of women making big bucks, so you cannot criticize unequal rights between men and women in the Western democratic countries. Opportunities are present here for everyone to make good living. If anything, many organizations actually present more opportunities to women and members of visible minorities just for the sake of public image and "equality". In reality, I don't recall women in the West intentionally being underpaid or under-promoted simply because they are women.

On the other hand, pregnant women are left behind sometimes because fierce business practices can put them behind when it comes to income and work. This issue has been addressed to some degree, and will need to be further improved to make sure that women are not discriminated against in the workplace just because they need maternity leave.

Women's rights in other parts of the world is a totally different story.

Again the male psyche is a necessity for men, men have to compete in order to have respect and status, and to be deemed as worthy by females who they wish to replicate with. Simple behavioural economics will stipulate that men have to gain status and attributes in order to be able to make concessions to ensure the contract of reproduction is fulfilled.

I know this may sound very clinical and like a load of intellectual fluff, but just ignore the feminist/socialist tripe, of how society is a constant battle between the strong and meek, oppressor and oppressed. Think of other reasoning especially as being a man, why you would buy a woman a drink in a club; feminists will say this is because of subversion or manipulation, even other men to retain their masculinity would state the same; where as deep down inside the reason is, concessions have to be made. In the arena of social dynamics a woman will have higher status because of her uterus which is more valuable than sperm. Because of this men would either have to be of very high social status (The alpha male) or he would have to make worthy concessions; i.e. why women and children go first in the face of a disaster, men being drafted for conscription.

It is fascinating, the main problem here lies is this victim narrative that is adopted by more women nowadays and even men. How can you as a personal individual, have a healthy relationship with a woman if you have somehow formulated this social conscience that entwines in believing she is the oppressed. It is unhealthy, no wonder why men who are feminist supporters mostly fail tragically with women.

[AFAIK]

Should men get the same length of parental leave as women do?

Men and women are deserving of equal consideration not equal outcomes.

[Godstud]

Men and women are deserving of equal consideration not equal outcomes.

Well said.