Maternity Leave

Words: 634
Pages: 3

The United States, a country often dubbed as the land of the free, falls short in providing freedom from the workplace in order to take care of newborn children. In 2006, researcher Jody Heymann of Harvard University researched the policies of maternity leave in 168 different countries. Among those 168 countries, Heymann discovered only five countries whom did not guarantee paid maternity leave, one including the United States. Maternity leave is a crucial time for parents and infants of all backgrounds to not only form important bonds, but also to ensure the health and well-being of a newborn baby. In her Washington Post article, “We Can Afford to Give Parents a Break,” Heymann directs her writing style to the general American public, but …show more content…
Ethos, a technique used to appeal to character and establish trustworthiness, serves an important purpose in supporting Heymann’s belief. By stating that she “collected data” as a researcher at Harvard, Heymann establishes herself as a knowledgeable, trustworthy source, instead of just any other skeptical journalist with an opinion. Heymann also states that she worked with the Project on Global Working families at two prestigious universities, Harvard, located in Massachusetts, and McGill, located in Montreal, Canada. By working with two international organizations, she establishes very strong credibility. Also, Heymann establishes Ethos by stating “our government”, which says that even though she is a critic, she writes on behalf of her audience. In this case, her audience includes the readers of The Washington Post, a well-known American newspaper printed in Washington DC. The Washington Post presents itself as a primarily liberal paper, so Heymann can expect to receive more understanding and support than if she published her article in a primarily conservative publication such as The Wall Street Journal. Although Heymann may not receive support from all readers, a large number of readers would at least consider her views regarding maternity leave. Although not all audiences may agree with Heymann’s opinions, she establishes her credibility or ethos in many ways throughout the