An interesting but somewhat tantalising post on South Korea! It would be good to know whether the cash grants to parents are working; whether the 50% of women who leave work at first childbirth have wealthy husbands and how they feel about quitting; why the 50% of mothers who continue working while parenting do so and their feelings about it; why the (presumed) majority who sacrifice family prospects for work do so and whether this reflects their wishes. Perhaps we should not assume that behaviours express preferences. However strong family values are in South Korea, as anywhere, economic necessity is evidently trumping them or cash help would not be state policy. Could we not ask what women want and whether ‘making work and parenthood as compatible as possible’ is it? Maybe governments should support those deprived of the advantages of the wealthy? It might just work.
An interesting but somewhat tantalising post on South Korea! It would be good to know whether the cash grants to parents are working; whether the 50% of women who leave work at first childbirth have wealthy husbands and how they feel about quitting; why the 50% of mothers who continue working while parenting do so and their feelings about it; why the (presumed) majority who sacrifice family prospects for work do so and whether this reflects their wishes. Perhaps we should not assume that behaviours express preferences. However strong family values are in South Korea, as anywhere, economic necessity is evidently trumping them or cash help would not be state policy. Could we not ask what women want and whether ‘making work and parenthood as compatible as possible’ is it? Maybe governments should support those deprived of the advantages of the wealthy? It might just work.