Letter to the Editor: Response to maternity leave policy
The Thresher's Nov. 6 report and staff editorial highlight inadequate maternity leave policies at Rice. We, the undersigned*, agree that institutions like Rice should strive toward "equal maternity leave for all,” including the extraordinary and valuable members of our community whose classification happens to be “staff” or “non-tenure-track faculty.” In addition to supporting this general argument, we also call attention to the need to extend such policies to men in these roles. Gender equality in the workplace will not be achieved until men are as expected, encouraged and supported in caregiver roles as women. This discussion should be about parental leave, not just maternity leave. Fairness in parental leave policies for all members of the Rice community serves the mission and values of our institution.
Janet Braam, BioSciences
Julie Fette, French Studies
Mikki Hebl, Psychological Sciences
Eden King, Psychological Sciences
Melissa Marschall, Political Science
Caroline Masiello, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
Maria Oden, Bioengineering
Barbara Bennett Ostdiek, Jones Graduate School of Business
Sandy Parsons, Psychological Sciences
Dereth Phillips, Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Bioengineering
Ruth Turley, Sociology
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