I am more than a mom: Stories of parental leave during the transition to motherhood in Canada. (12th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paterson, Stephanie; Hebblethwaite, Shannon; Trussell, Dawn; Evans, Meredith; Xing, Trisha
• Is Part Of: Social policy & administration. Volume 53:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 401
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2018-11-12
• Subjects: Canada -- family policy -- feminist policy studies -- narrative policy analysis -- parental leave; Social policy -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 361.6105
• DOI: 10.1111/spol.12472
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-5596

Abstract

Abstract: The transition to motherhood is a time of tremendous change, during which maternal subjects experience important shifts in their relationships with family, friends, employers, and state. Parental leave policies have potential to mitigate some of these changes, contributing positively to health and economic outcomes. Indeed, such policies have been identified as essential for achieving gender equality, serving to address both recognition and redistributive claims. In this paper, we explore parental leave policy through the lens of first time mothers in Canada, where two distinct policy regimes coexist. Using narrative analysis, we examine the ways in which the transition to motherhood is embodied and enacted through policy experiences. The stories we uncover, stories of helplessness, of control and resistance, and of stymied progress, illuminate how leave policies differently position maternal subjects in complex social settings.