82. The issue here is whether business and government are doing enough to help meet
the needs and goals of women in the workplace. I agree with the speaker insofar as
many employers can do more to accommodate the special needs of women in their role
as mothers. However, it seems to me that business and government are doing their fair
share otherwise for women in the workplace.
Women differ fundamentally from men in their child-bearing ability. Related to
this ability is the maternal1 instincta desire to nurture2 that is far stronger for women
than for men, generally speaking. At a minimum, then, businesses should acknowledge
these fundamental differences and accommodate them so that a female employee's job
and career are not jeopardized3 merely for fulfilling her instinctive4 role as a female.
More and more businesses are providing maternal leave with full benefits, day-care
facilities, and job-sharing programs to accommodate these special needs of women. In
my observation, however, many businesses can do more in these respects.
However, beyond accommodating these fundamental differences, neither business
nor government has a special duty to improve the status of women at the workplace.
The government already has an obligation to enact5 and enforce anti-discrimination laws,
and to provide legal means for seeking redress6 in cases of discrimination. Moreover,
business and government both have a legal duty to abide7 by those laws by way of their
hiring, salary, and job-promotion policies. Discharging this duty should, in my view,
suffice to serve the special interests of women in the workplace. While many would
argue that de facto double standards still run rampant8 and largely unchecked, this claim
raises subjective9 perceptions about fairness that can neither be confirmed nor dispelled10
with certainty.
In sum, business and government can always do more to accommodate women in
their special role as mothers. Otherwise, insofar as they are adhering to our current anti-
discrimination laws, business and government are discharging their duty to help meet
the needs and goals of women at the workplace.
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