Women should not have to choose between being a mother and having a career. However, in the U.S., the Family and Medical Leave Act requires employers to offer new mothers only 12 weeks of unpaid leave. 

In comparison to most other countries, the U.S. does little to support mothers during maternity leave, placing working women in the U.S. at a major disadvantage economically and socially. 

The argument over whether or not women should have paid maternity leave will not be resolved soon. Those who argue against paid leave cite that it would cause a substantial rise in cost for employers, would be unfair towards employees left performing their job while the new mothers are away, and that maternity leave could result in discriminatory hiring leading to inequality in the workforce. 

Granted, there will be a high cost that comes along with paid maternity leave. Unpaid leave already amounts to a cost of $21 billion per year, according to NBC’s William Hoar. 

However, cost is not a substantial reason as to why the U.S. should not promote the general welfare of families. 

Additionally, unpaid leave is unfair for women who are dedicated employees who need to stay home with their child. Because woman play a key role in raising children, their needs should not be ignored just because men do not usually take on this role. 

If everyone, men and women, had equal chances of getting pregnant, paid maternity (or paternity) leave in the U.S. would not be an issue, as everyone would receive it. 

Others have argued that if U.S. employers agreed to paid maternity leave, then they would be hesitant to hire young women, creating discrimination in the workplace.

But discrimination against women happens in the workplace anyway. Women earn 77 cents for every dollar that a man earns, Lilly Ledbetter reported in an article for CNN. 

Women need a support from their employers before and after giving birth in order to properly take care of their children, and should not have to worry about finances. 

Starting a family costs a lot. A new mother and her family may not be able to afford to have 12 weeks without a source of income. 

Complications and recovery after the birth take up a large part of those 12 weeks and a mother needs to spend that time with her baby. The current system puts low-income mothers and families at a disadvantage if they need to work to pay their bills. The law should be changed to catch up with other developed countries such as Canada and the United Kingdon.