The phenomenon of women taking maternity leave during their pregnancies being criticized and constantly judged by the general public in some parts of the world has generated significant debates. This essay will examine the reasons behind this situation and delve into the pros and cons of displaying condemnation for women who have a sabbatical when taking care of their babies before given a reasoned conclusion regarding whether it is a positive or negative development.
One primary reason for public reprimand towards women who take respite from the rat race to give care for their infants is the belief that maternity leave is a period of time when women become a financial burden, putting severe pressure on other family members. As new mothers need a hiatus to recover from the physical ordeal of childbirth, they are unable to work and support their families financially which requires a shift in paid roles meaning that the husbands or other family members have to work harder to aid the whole family. For example, in Viet Nam, women in rural areas who stays at home to rest after child bearing are often criticized and mentally tormented by relatives and neighbors due to their inability to earn a living. In addition, having a lull from corporate life is believe to make women intellectually enfeebled. Undeniably, a breather deprives women of opportunities to acquire new relevant job skills, potentially leading to stagnation for professional growth.
On an individual level, outright denunciation is believed to provide motivation and determination for women to reenter corporate environments after putting their brain in the ashtray for months. However, this thinking is flawed due to the potential health risks that could negatively affect new mothers’ bodies. As C-section needs a great deal of time and care to recover, the cut inflicted by the surgery could be affected without the provision of proper rehabilitation. Furthermore, raising a human baby is a massive undertaking requiring constant new information learning and skill acquisition. Therefore, if criticism and judgements were to minimize, women would be healthier and more motivated to give the best care for their infants, who might one day contribute to the sustainability of national development.
In conclusion, public criticism for women taking maternity leave is fueled from damaging assumptions including financial incapacities and weakened intelligence. While it is argued that the society’s denunciation empowers women to return to their work, it is predominantly a negative development due to several adverse implications involving potential health problems and demotivation in the relentless pursuit of childcare knowledge.