Individual Projects

“Mother, you have the floor”: Pregnancy, policy, and politics.

There has been a mini “baby boom” in parliaments in recent years, as more women of child bearing age enter elected politics. Unfortunately, balancing pregnancy and postpartum responsibilities with elected office is difficult, as many parliaments have yet to implement formal or comprehensive policies governing leave. This research (which is currently in its initial stages) aims to lay the groundwork for policy and best practices in maternity and parental leave for MPs by pinpointing the policy gap on these forms of leave for members of public office in democratic countries, examining the consequences of this gap, and identifying fruitful policy directions aimed at advancing women’s representation in office. This project is supported by a SSHRC Insight Development Grant.