Introduction
The main goal of any government is to maintain the well-being of the public, bridging the gap between classes, sustaining and encouraging equal opportunities, and reducing poverty. Among the policies that must be implemented are the ones concerning poverty and social mobility. In order to enhance social justice in terms of social mobility and poverty, the state must consider family-centered policies, including parental leave and child benefits.
Discussion
To start with, there are several facts that fellow Americans should know. First, racial and ethnic groups are more likely to be poor since many racial and ethnic groups experience poverty at varying rates (Cohen, 2020). Second, poverty and family composition are tightly connected (Cohen, 2020). Compared to other groups in America, those who live in single-mother families are considerably more likely to be poor (Cohen, 2020). Therefore, family structure and ethnic and racial background are important factors.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that social mobility is strongly dependent on family structure. The development and social mobility of younger generations are influenced by the family structure, as well as by the attitudes and resources accessible there (Cohen, 2020). For example, a single mother with several children might struggle to provide for them, which might lead to the children having fewer opportunities and not being able to break the cycle of poverty.
When it comes to family leave, the U.S. is behind many countries. After 25 years, the United States is one country that still does not provide any paid leave for parents to spend time with their children (Cohen, 2020). In contrast, European countries, such as Finland, might offer paid leave for almost three years (Cohen, 2020). When it comes to the related U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act, its pros are that employees have the right to up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave when they become ill or must care for a close relative due to a birth, adoption, or sickness (Cohen, 2020). However, the cons are that the right does not apply to everyone since only individuals who have worked for a minimum of a year in the private sector or state workers are typically covered (Cohen, 2020). Therefore, such a disadvantage leaves many parents vulnerable.
As for the UNICEF article, there were facts that surprised me. Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, and Portugal have the most regulations that are family-friendly (UNICEF, 2019). The bottom five are Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, the U.K., and Ireland (UNICEF, 2019). What surprised me the most is that mothers can take 85 weeks of paid leave in Estonia, in Hungary, it is 72 weeks, and in Bulgaria, it is 61 weeks (UNICEF, 2019). The only country without a nationwide paid leave plan for parents is the United States.
Policies that should be adopted by the U.S. involve child benefits and parental leave. The most efficient essential tools for combating poverty are national child benefits, which serve as the cornerstone of a complete social security system (UNICEF, n.d.). They provide for the needs of businesses, households, and the economy. Moreover, working parents who adopt a child or give birth to a child are given paid parental leave, which replaces all or part of their lost income (UNICEF, n.d.). Therefore, with more possibilities with child benefits and parental leave, there can be fewer health and poverty issues. Finally, family-friendly policies encompass policies that support and combine professional and personal lives. For instance, during COVID-19, the most effective measures were flexible hours. However, for those who could not work virtually, regulations involving the provision of safe childcare and health measures were effective as well.
Conclusion
Hence, the state must take into account family-centered policies, such as parental leave and child benefits. Important variables include family structure, ethnicity, and racial background. Additionally, it is important to remember that family structure has a significant impact on social mobility. The United States is behind several other nations in terms of family leave. Benefits for children and parental leave are two policies that the United States should implement.
References
Cohen, P. N. (2020). The family: diversity, inequality, and social change (3rd ed.). W.W. Norton.
UNICEF. (n.d.). Redesigning the workplace to be family-friendly: What governments and businesses can do. Web.
UNICEF. (2019). Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia and Portugal rank highest for family-friendly policies in OECD and EU countries. Web.