Eileen Applebaum presented the first findings from a cross-national study of work/family policies and practices in six countries, a study performed with Tom Bailey, Peter Berg, and Arne Kalleberg. Appelbaum argued that no country serves as a model in responding to the conflicts created by the entry of women and mothers into the workforce. The U.S. has created a far higher degree of gender equity in careers relative to the other countries, but is the only country with no mandatory vacation, publicly supported child care, and paid time off on a regular basis. Sweden provides policies that are far more supportive of the parental commitments of men and women, but segregates the vast majority of employed women into the public sector.The most promising policies are found in the Netherlands. Although the policies are new, they offer the potential for individuals to tailor working time to family circumstances, reducing hours when family responsibilities are severe, and increasing hours when family responsibilities decline. These policies place those choices squarely in the hands of employees. Appelbaum concluded with a call for policies and practices centered around the idea of “shared work/valued care.”
