Too often, "women have to choose between working through unbearable pain, losing income they can’t afford to go without, or tapping into a limited number of sick days," writes Congresswoman Ansari.

Across the U.S., millions of women have to choose between working through unbearable pain, losing income they can’t afford to go without, or tapping into a limited number of sick days that then won’t be there if they have the flu or a doctor’s appointment. For low-wage workers, the choices are even more limited, with no work from home or sick leave options.

When I woke up on the floor of that bodega in 2015, I was 23-years-old and terrified that asking for time off would hurt my career. But now, I’m a member of Congress with the power to do something about it.

I’m introducing legislation to give workers up to 12 days of paid leave a year for reproductive health. It would cover period pain, yes, but also menopause symptoms, IVF, miscarriages, endometriosis flare-ups, and more. And it isn’t just for women—men could leverage the policy to get a vasectomy or fertility treatments. It’s a policy that’s inclusive, smart, and cost-effective.

    • velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      6·
      6 days ago

      No parental leave, no sick leave, nothing.

      Some individual states have passed family leave protections and PTO protections, but they’re in the minority.

      • tio_bira@lemmy.world
        4·
        5 days ago

        Well, that’s pretty fucked up, this and the lack of public healthcare… I can’t even imagine live in a country like this, and i not even european

        • foxwolf@pawb.social
          1·
          5 days ago

          I see “tio” in your username. Você esta no Brazil? Estou estudando português para fugir dos estados unidos. Eu gostaria ir para Portugal ou Brazil, mas o Brazil é mais difícil. O que você acha sobre me mudar para o Brazil dos estados unidos? E como é a minha lingua faz um e meio anos?

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      USA is a dystopia, they force women back to work in 2 weeks and they have milking rooms at workplaces. Oh, and childbirth is out-of-pocket expense.

      • tio_bira@lemmy.world
        1·
        5 days ago

        Childbirth is also very expensive here, but brazilian government have many social programs to help poor people to rise children, even paying to keep them on school

  • switcheroo@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    6 days ago

    Yeah this isn’t passing. Half the doctors we see are still telling us our symptoms aren’t real. Hysteria.

    Especially considering all three branches of Gov are controlled by men who hate the fact women have the right to vote and autonomy over their own bodies…

    • velma@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      2·
      5 days ago

      I don’t expect it to pass, but I am supportive of continuing to push for equal rights. We gotta keep fighting.