TEDxSMU
Jessica Shortall: The US needs paid family leave -- for the sake of its future
Jessica Shortall: Os Estados Unidos necesitan a baixa de maternidade polo ben do seu futuro
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Precisamos que as mulleres traballen e que as mulleres traballadoras teñan fillos. Entón... por que segue Estados Unidos sen ofrecer unha baixa de maternidade pública a todas as nais? Nesta charla rompedora, Jessica Shortall é quen de amosar a realidade problemática da maternidade americana: millóns de mulleres vense obrigadas a volver ao traballo cada ano apenas semanas despois do parto. A súa idea: é momento de que comprendamos os custos económicos, físicos e psicolóxicos do xeito no que achegamos ás nais traballadoras e á súa descendencia. É momento, tamén, de asegurar o seu futuro económico por medio de baixas pagadas para todas as nais e pais traballadores.
Jessica Shortall - Strategy consultant, social entrepreneur and author
Jessica Shortall is a working mom of two and author of Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom's Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work. Full bio
Jessica Shortall is a working mom of two and author of Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom's Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
What does a working mother look like?
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Como é unha nai traballadora?
00:15
If you ask the Internet,
this is what you'll be told.
this is what you'll be told.
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Se lle preguntan a Internet,
esta é a resposta que terán.
esta é a resposta que terán.
00:18
Never mind that this is
what you'll actually produce
what you'll actually produce
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Tanto ten se isto é
o que escriben realmente
o que escriben realmente
00:22
if you attempt to work at a computer
with a baby on your lap.
with a baby on your lap.
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se tentan traballar no ordenador
cun neno no colo.
cun neno no colo.
00:25
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
00:27
But no, this isn't a working mother.
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E non, esta non é unha nai traballadora.
00:30
You'll notice a theme in these photos.
We'll look at a lot of them.
We'll look at a lot of them.
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Percibirán un tema recorrente nestas fotos
ese tema é a marabillosa luz natural
00:33
That theme is amazing natural lighting,
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00:36
which, as we all know,
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que, como todos sabemos,
00:39
is the hallmark
of every American workplace.
of every American workplace.
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é a habitual
en calquera lugar de traballo nos EUA.
en calquera lugar de traballo nos EUA.
00:43
There are thousands of images like these.
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Hai miles de imaxes coma esta.
00:46
Just put the term "working mother"
into any Google image search engine,
into any Google image search engine,
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Abonda con escribir "nai traballadora"
en calquera motor de busca
en calquera motor de busca
00:50
stock photo site.
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ou galería de fotos.
00:51
They're all over the Internet,
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Están por toda a Internet,
00:53
they're topping
blog posts and news pieces,
blog posts and news pieces,
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encabezando entradas de blog e noticias,
00:55
and I've become kind of obsessed with them
and the lie that they tell us
and the lie that they tell us
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e estamos obsesionados con elas
e a mentira que nos contan
e a mentira que nos contan
00:59
and the comfort that they give us,
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e a tranquilidade que nos dan
01:01
that when it comes
to new working motherhood in America,
to new working motherhood in America,
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de que en relación
coas novas nais traballadoras
coas novas nais traballadoras
01:05
everything's fine.
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todo vai de marabilla.
01:07
But it's not fine.
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Pero non vai de marabilla.
01:08
As a country, we are sending
millions of women back to work
millions of women back to work
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Como país, devolvemos
ao traballo millóns de mulleres
ao traballo millóns de mulleres
01:12
every year, incredibly
and kind of horrifically soon
and kind of horrifically soon
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cada ano, cunha rapidez
incrible e terrible,
incrible e terrible,
01:16
after they give birth.
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despois de que dean a luz.
01:17
That's a moral problem
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Este é un problema moral,
01:19
but today I'm also going to tell you
why it's an economic problem.
why it's an economic problem.
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pero hoxe quero explicar por que
é tamén un problema económico.
é tamén un problema económico.
01:23
I got so annoyed and obsessed
with the unreality of these images,
with the unreality of these images,
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Remato tan anoxada e obsesionada
con estas imaxes tan irreais
con estas imaxes tan irreais
01:27
which look nothing like my life,
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tan diferentes da miña vida,
01:29
that I recently decided to shoot and star
in a parody series of stock photos
in a parody series of stock photos
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que hai pouco decidín facer e protagonizar
unhas serie de fotos paródicas
unhas serie de fotos paródicas
coa esperanza de que a xente
as empezase a usar
as empezase a usar
01:34
that I hoped the world would start to use
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01:36
just showing the really awkward reality
of going back to work
of going back to work
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amosando a curiosa realidade
de volver ao traballo
de volver ao traballo
01:40
when your baby's food source
is attached to your body.
is attached to your body.
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cando a comida do teu neno
vai pegada ao teu corpo.
vai pegada ao teu corpo.
01:45
I'm just going to show you two of them.
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Voulles amosar dúas delas.
01:47
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
01:49
Nothing says "Give that girl a promotion"
like leaking breast milk
like leaking breast milk
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Nada axuda tanto a conseguir
un ascenso como as manchas de leite
un ascenso como as manchas de leite
01:52
through your dress during a presentation.
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no vestido durante unha presentación.
01:55
You'll notice that there's
no baby in this photo,
no baby in this photo,
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Fíxense en que non hai ningún neno na foto
01:57
because that's not how this works,
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porque non funciona así,
02:00
not for most working mothers.
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polo menos para a maioría das nais.
02:02
Did you know, and this will ruin your day,
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Sabían, e isto vailles estragar o día,
02:04
that every time a toilet is flushed,
its contents are aerosolized
its contents are aerosolized
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que cada vez que tiran da cisterna
o que hai dentro vaporízase
o que hai dentro vaporízase
02:07
and they'll stay airborne for hours?
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e permanece no aire durante horas?
02:10
And yet, for many new working mothers,
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Aínda así, para moitas nais traballadoras
02:13
this is the only place during the day
that they can find to make food
that they can find to make food
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ese é o único lugar en todo o día
en que poden darlles de comer
en que poden darlles de comer
02:16
for their newborn babies.
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aos seus bebés acabados de nacer.
02:18
I put these things,
a whole dozen of them, into the world.
a whole dozen of them, into the world.
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Presento estas cousas,
unha ducia delas, ao mundo.
unha ducia delas, ao mundo.
02:22
I wanted to make a point.
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Quería deixar algo claro.
02:24
I didn't know what I was also doing
was opening a door,
was opening a door,
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Non sabía que ao mesmo tempo
estaba abrindo unha porta
estaba abrindo unha porta
02:27
because now, total strangers
from all walks of life
from all walks of life
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porque agora todo tipo
de persoas descoñecidas
de persoas descoñecidas
02:31
write to me all the time
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me escriben a cadora
02:32
just to tell me what it's like
for them to go back to work
for them to go back to work
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para me contaren como
é para elas volver ao traballo
é para elas volver ao traballo
02:36
within days or weeks of having a baby.
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só uns días ou semanas despois
de teren un fillo.
de teren un fillo.
Vou compartir con vostedes
dez das súas historias hoxe.
dez das súas historias hoxe.
02:39
I'm going to share
10 of their stories with you today.
10 of their stories with you today.
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02:42
They are totally real,
some of them are very raw,
some of them are very raw,
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Son totalmente reais,
algunhas moi dolorosas
algunhas moi dolorosas
02:45
and not one of them
looks anything like this.
looks anything like this.
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e ningunha delas se parece a isto.
02:50
Here's the first.
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Aquí vai a primeira.
02:52
"I was an active duty
service member at a federal prison.
service member at a federal prison.
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"Era unha traballadora activa
nunha prisión federal.
nunha prisión federal.
02:55
I returned to work after the maximum
allowed eight weeks for my C-section.
allowed eight weeks for my C-section.
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Volvín ao traballo tras o máximo permitido
de oito semanas após unha cesárea.
de oito semanas após unha cesárea.
03:00
A male coworker was annoyed
that I had been out on 'vacation,'
that I had been out on 'vacation,'
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Un compañeiro varón enfadouse
porque eu marchara 'de vacacións',
porque eu marchara 'de vacacións',
03:04
so he intentionally opened the door on me
while I was pumping breast milk
while I was pumping breast milk
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así que abriu a mantenta a porta
mentres eu sacaba leite do peito
mentres eu sacaba leite do peito
03:07
and stood in the doorway
with inmates in the hallway."
with inmates in the hallway."
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e permaneceu na porta
cos reclusos no corredor".
cos reclusos no corredor".
03:11
Most of the stories that these women,
total strangers, send to me now,
total strangers, send to me now,
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Moitas das historias
que estas mulleres envían
que estas mulleres envían
non tratan sequera sobre aleitar.
03:15
are not actually even about breastfeeding.
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03:17
A woman wrote to me to say,
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Unha muller escribiume para dicir:
03:19
"I gave birth to twins and went back
to work after seven unpaid weeks.
to work after seven unpaid weeks.
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"Tiven dous xemelgos e volvín
ao traballo tras sete semanas sen salario.
ao traballo tras sete semanas sen salario.
03:24
Emotionally, I was a wreck.
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Estaba emocionalmente rota.
03:25
Physically, I had a severe hemorrhage
during labor, and major tearing,
during labor, and major tearing,
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Fisicamente tivera unha grande hemorraxia
e un desgarro durante o parto,
e un desgarro durante o parto,
03:30
so I could barely get up, sit or walk.
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apenas podía erguerme, sentarme ou andar.
03:33
My employer told me I wasn't allowed
to use my available vacation days
to use my available vacation days
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O meu xefe díxome que non podía
usar os meus días de vacacións
usar os meus días de vacacións
03:36
because it was budget season."
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porque era tempada alta".
03:39
I've come to believe that we can't look
situations like these in the eye
situations like these in the eye
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Penso que non podemos asumir
situacións coma esta
situacións coma esta
03:44
because then we'd be horrified,
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porque nos horrorizaríamos,
03:46
and if we get horrified
then we have to do something about it.
then we have to do something about it.
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e se nos horrorizamos,
entón temos que reaccionar.
entón temos que reaccionar.
03:49
So we choose to look at,
and believe, this image.
and believe, this image.
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Eliximos, entón, mirar e crer nesta imaxe.
03:53
I don't really know
what's going on in this picture,
what's going on in this picture,
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Non teño claro que ocorre nesta imaxe,
03:55
because I find it weird
and slightly creepy.
and slightly creepy.
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porque me parece rara e algo sinistra.
03:58
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
03:59
Like, what is she doing?
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Ela, que está a facer?
04:01
But I know what it tells us.
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Pero sei o que a foto nos conta.
04:05
It tells us that everything's fine.
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Cóntanos que todo vai ben.
04:07
This working mother, all working mothers
and all of their babies, are fine.
and all of their babies, are fine.
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Todo vai ben para esta nai, para todas
as nais traballadoras e todos os nenos.
as nais traballadoras e todos os nenos.
04:11
There's nothing to see here.
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Aquí non hai nada que mirar.
04:13
And anyway, women have made a choice,
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E aínda así, as mulleres decidiron,
04:16
so none of it's even our problem.
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así que nada disto é o noso problema.
04:19
I want to break this choice thing
down into two parts.
down into two parts.
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Quero dividir este tema da elección
en dúas partes.
en dúas partes.
04:22
The first choice says
that women have chosen to work.
that women have chosen to work.
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A primeira elección di
que as mulleres decidiron traballar.
que as mulleres decidiron traballar.
04:25
So, that's not true.
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E non é verdade.
04:28
Today in America, women make up
47 percent of the workforce,
47 percent of the workforce,
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En América as mulleres son hoxe
o 47% da poboación activa,
o 47% da poboación activa,
04:33
and in 40 percent of American households
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e no 40% dos fogares americanos
04:35
a woman is the sole
or primary breadwinner.
or primary breadwinner.
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a muller é o único
ou o principal sustento da familia.
ou o principal sustento da familia.
04:38
Our paid work is a part, a huge part,
of the engine of this economy,
of the engine of this economy,
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O noso traballo remunerado é
unha parte enorme do motor desta economía,
unha parte enorme do motor desta economía,
04:43
and it is essential
for the engines of our families.
for the engines of our families.
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e é esencial para a economía
das nosas familias.
das nosas familias.
04:46
On a national level,
our paid work is not optional.
our paid work is not optional.
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A nivel nacional, o noso traballo
non é unha opción.
non é unha opción.
04:50
Choice number two says that women
are choosing to have babies,
are choosing to have babies,
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A segunda di que as mulleres
decidiron ter fillos,
decidiron ter fillos,
04:53
so women alone should bear
the consequences of those choices.
the consequences of those choices.
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así que teñen que cangar
coas consecuencias da súa decisión.
coas consecuencias da súa decisión.
04:58
You know, that's one of those things
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En fin, esta é unha desas cousas
05:00
that when you hear it in passing,
can sound correct.
can sound correct.
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que poden parecer verdade
se as oes de pasada.
se as oes de pasada.
05:02
I didn't make you have a baby.
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Eu non che mandei ter un neno.
05:03
I certainly wasn't there
when that happened.
when that happened.
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Non estaba alí cando pasou.
05:06
But that stance
ignores a fundamental truth,
ignores a fundamental truth,
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Pero esta afirmación
ignora unha verdade fundamental:
ignora unha verdade fundamental:
05:12
which is that our procreation
on a national scale is not optional.
on a national scale is not optional.
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a procreación a escala nacional
non é unha opción.
non é unha opción.
05:17
The babies that women, many of them
working women, are having today,
working women, are having today,
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Os fillos que teñen estas mulleres,
moitas traballadoras,
moitas traballadoras,
05:21
will one day fill our workforce,
protect our shores,
protect our shores,
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serán algún día os nosos traballadores,
protexerán as fronteiras,
protexerán as fronteiras,
05:24
make up our tax base.
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pagarán os impostos.
05:26
Our procreation
on a national scale is not optional.
on a national scale is not optional.
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A procreación non é unha opción
a escala nacional.
a escala nacional.
05:30
These aren't choices.
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Non son escollas.
05:32
We need women to work.
We need working women to have babies.
We need working women to have babies.
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Necesitamos que as mulleres traballen.
Necesitamos que as mulleres teñan fillos.
Necesitamos que as mulleres teñan fillos.
05:36
So we should make
doing those things at the same time
doing those things at the same time
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Entón deberiamos facer
que as dúas cousas á vez
que as dúas cousas á vez
fosen, como mínimo, aceptables, non si?
05:38
at least palatable, right?
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05:40
OK, this is pop quiz time:
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Ben, é tempo para o test de revista:
05:43
what percentage of working
women in America do you think
women in America do you think
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que porcentaxe de mulleres traballadoras
pensades que nos EUA
pensades que nos EUA
05:46
have no access to paid maternity leave?
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non ten acceso a baixa de maternidade?
05:51
88 percent.
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88 por cento.
O 88 por cento de nais traballadoras
non terán nin unha miga da axuda
non terán nin unha miga da axuda
05:53
88 percent of working mothers
will not get one minute of paid leave
will not get one minute of paid leave
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05:57
after they have a baby.
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despois de ter o seu fillo.
05:58
So now you're thinking about unpaid leave.
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Pensade agora na baixa
sen dereito a cobro.
sen dereito a cobro.
06:02
It exists in America.
It's called FMLA. It does not work.
It's called FMLA. It does not work.
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Existe nos EUA.
Chámase FMLA e non funciona.
Chámase FMLA e non funciona.
06:05
Because of the way it's structured,
all kinds of exceptions,
all kinds of exceptions,
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Por como se estrutura,
con todo tipo de excepcións,
con todo tipo de excepcións,
06:08
half of new mothers are ineligible for it.
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a metade das nais
non pode optar a ela.
non pode optar a ela.
06:12
Here's what that looks like.
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Funciona así.
06:16
"We adopted our son.
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"Adoptamos o noso fillo.
06:18
When I got the call, the day he was born,
I had to take off work.
I had to take off work.
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Cando me chamaron o día que naceu,
tiven que saír do traballo.
tiven que saír do traballo.
06:22
I had not been there long enough
to qualify for FMLA,
to qualify for FMLA,
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Non estivera tempo abondo
para ter dereito ao FMLA,
para ter dereito ao FMLA,
06:25
so I wasn't eligible for unpaid leave.
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polo que non podía optar á baixa.
Cando pedín días libres
para estar co meu novo fillo
para estar co meu novo fillo
06:28
When I took time off
to meet my newborn son,
to meet my newborn son,
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perdín o traballo."
06:30
I lost my job."
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06:33
These corporate stock photos
hide another reality, another layer.
hide another reality, another layer.
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Este tipo de fotos corporativas
agochan outra realidade.
agochan outra realidade.
06:38
Of those who do have access
to just that unpaid leave,
to just that unpaid leave,
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Das nais que si teñen acceso
á baixa sen dereito a cobro,
á baixa sen dereito a cobro,
06:42
most women can't afford
to take much of it at all.
to take much of it at all.
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moitas non poden permitirse usala.
06:45
A nurse told me, "I didn't qualify
for short-term disability
for short-term disability
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Unha enfermeira explicoume "Non tiña
opción á baixa maternal
opción á baixa maternal
06:49
because my pregnancy
was considered a preexisting condition.
was considered a preexisting condition.
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porque o meu embarazo foi considerado
condición preexistente.
condición preexistente.
Gastamos toda a devolución de facenda
e a metade dos aforros
e a metade dos aforros
06:53
We used up all of our tax returns
and half of our savings
and half of our savings
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06:55
during my six unpaid weeks.
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nas miñas seis semanas sen soldo.
06:57
We just couldn't manage any longer.
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Non podiamos seguir por máis tempo.
06:59
Physically it was hard,
but emotionally it was worse.
but emotionally it was worse.
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Era duro a nivel físico,
pero no emocional era peor.
pero no emocional era peor.
07:02
I struggled for months
being away from my son."
being away from my son."
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Sufrín durante meses
estando lonxe do meu fillo".
estando lonxe do meu fillo".
07:05
So this decision
to go back to work so early,
to go back to work so early,
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Entón esta decisión
de volver tan cedo ao traballo
de volver tan cedo ao traballo
07:08
it's a rational economic decision
driven by family finances,
driven by family finances,
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é unha decisión económica racional
motivada pola economía familiar,
motivada pola economía familiar,
07:12
but it's often physically horrific
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pero a miúdo é horrible a nivel físico
07:14
because putting a human
into the world is messy.
into the world is messy.
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porque traer un ser humano
ao mundo é complicado.
ao mundo é complicado.
07:18
A waitress told me,
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Unha camareira contoume:
07:19
"With my first baby, I was back
at work five weeks postpartum.
at work five weeks postpartum.
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"Co meu primeiro fillo, volvín
ao traballo cinco semanas após o parto.
ao traballo cinco semanas após o parto.
07:23
With my second, I had to have
major surgery after giving birth,
major surgery after giving birth,
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Co segundo, tiven unha cirurxía seria
despois de dar a luz
despois de dar a luz
07:26
so I waited until six weeks to go back.
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e tiven que esperar seis semanas.
07:29
I had third degree tears."
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2080
Tiña desgarros de nivel tres."
07:32
23 percent of new
working mothers in America
working mothers in America
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O 23% das novas nais traballadoras nos EUA
07:35
will be back on the job
within two weeks of giving birth.
within two weeks of giving birth.
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4600
volverán ao traballo
dúas semanas despois do parto.
dúas semanas despois do parto.
07:42
"I worked as a bartender and cook,
average of 75 hours a week while pregnant.
average of 75 hours a week while pregnant.
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"Traballaba como camareira e cociñeira
75 horas á semana durante o embarazo.
75 horas á semana durante o embarazo.
07:47
I had to return to work
before my baby was a month old,
before my baby was a month old,
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Volvín traballar
antes de que o neno tivese un mes,
antes de que o neno tivese un mes,
07:49
working 60 hours a week.
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457640
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traballando 60 horas á semana.
07:51
One of my coworkers was only able
to afford 10 days off with her baby."
to afford 10 days off with her baby."
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Unha das miñas compañeiras só puido
permitirse 10 días co seu neno."
permitirse 10 días co seu neno."
07:56
Of course, this isn't just a scenario
with economic and physical implications.
with economic and physical implications.
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Por suposto, esta non é só unha situación
con implicacións económicas e físicas.
con implicacións económicas e físicas.
08:00
Childbirth is, and always will be,
an enormous psychological event.
an enormous psychological event.
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O nacemento é, e será sempre,
un enorme acontecemento psicolóxico.
un enorme acontecemento psicolóxico.
08:06
A teacher told me,
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2096
Unha profesora explicoume:
08:08
"I returned to work
eight weeks after my son was born.
eight weeks after my son was born.
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"Volvín ao traballo
oito semanas despois do nacemento.
oito semanas despois do nacemento.
08:11
I already suffer from anxiety,
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1896
Xa tiña problemas de ansiedade,
08:13
but the panic attacks I had prior
to returning to work were unbearable."
to returning to work were unbearable."
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481200
5096
pero os ataques de pánico que tiven
antes de volver eran insoportables".
antes de volver eran insoportables".
08:18
Statistically speaking,
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2096
A nivel estatístico,
08:20
the shorter a woman's leave
after having a baby,
after having a baby,
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canto menos dure a baixa
despois de ter o fillo,
despois de ter o fillo,
08:23
the more likely she will be to suffer
from postpartum mood disorders
from postpartum mood disorders
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máis probable é que se sufran
problemas emocionais posparto,
problemas emocionais posparto,
08:26
like depression and anxiety,
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2096
como depresión ou ansiedade.
08:28
and among many potential
consequences of those disorders,
consequences of those disorders,
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Entre outras consecuencias posibles
destas desordes,
destas desordes,
08:32
suicide is the second
most common cause of death
most common cause of death
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o suicidio é a segunda causa
de morte máis frecuente
de morte máis frecuente
08:35
in a woman's first year postpartum.
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no primeiro ano despois do parto.
08:39
Heads up that this next story --
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Atención á seguinte historia!
08:40
I've never met this woman,
but I find it hard to get through.
but I find it hard to get through.
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Nunca coñecín a esta muller,
a súa historia éme difícil de aturar.
a súa historia éme difícil de aturar.
08:45
"I feel tremendous grief and rage
that I lost an essential,
that I lost an essential,
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"Sinto moitísima pena e rabia
porque perdín un tempo fundamental,
porque perdín un tempo fundamental,
08:49
irreplaceable and formative
time with my son.
time with my son.
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insubstituíble e formativo co meu fillo.
08:53
Labor and delivery
left me feeling absolutely broken.
left me feeling absolutely broken.
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O parto e o nacemento deixáronme desfeita.
08:56
For months, all I remember
is the screaming: colic, they said.
is the screaming: colic, they said.
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524960
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Daqueles meses só lembro
os berros: dixeron que era un cólico.
os berros: dixeron que era un cólico.
09:01
On the inside, I was drowning.
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2136
Eu afogaba por dentro.
09:03
Every morning, I asked myself
how much longer I could do it.
how much longer I could do it.
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Preguntábame cada mañá
durante canto tempo podería aturalo.
durante canto tempo podería aturalo.
09:07
I was allowed to bring my baby to work.
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Deixáronme levar o neno ao traballo.
09:10
I closed my office door
while I rocked and shushed
while I rocked and shushed
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3136
Pechei a porta da oficina
mentres o aloumiñaba
mentres o aloumiñaba
09:13
and begged him to stop screaming
so I wouldn't get in trouble.
so I wouldn't get in trouble.
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e lle suplicaba que deixase de berrar
para non ter problemas eu.
para non ter problemas eu.
09:17
I hid behind that office door
every damn day
every damn day
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2056
Agocheime detrás da porta cada maldito día
09:19
and cried while he screamed.
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1936
e choraba mentres el berraba.
09:21
I cried in the bathroom
while I washed out the pump equipment.
while I washed out the pump equipment.
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Choraba no baño
mentres limpaba o sacaleite.
mentres limpaba o sacaleite.
09:25
Every day, I cried all the way to work
and all the way home again.
and all the way home again.
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3136
Cada día choraba ao ir traballar
e ao volver para a casa.
e ao volver para a casa.
09:28
I promised my boss that the work
I didn't get done during the day,
I didn't get done during the day,
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3136
Prometínlle ao meu xefe
que o traballo que non facía polo día,
que o traballo que non facía polo día,
09:31
I'd make up at night from home.
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faríao de noite na casa.
09:33
I thought, there's just something
wrong with me that I can't swing this."
wrong with me that I can't swing this."
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3800
Pensei que algo non marchaba ben en min,
que non podía controlalo".
que non podía controlalo".
09:38
So those are the mothers.
181
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2616
Así son as nais.
09:41
What of the babies?
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1776
E os nenos?
09:42
As a country, do we care
about the millions of babies
about the millions of babies
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Como país, preocupámonos
polos millóns de nenos
polos millóns de nenos
que as nais traballadoras teñen cada ano?
09:45
born every year to working mothers?
184
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09:47
I say we don't,
185
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1336
Penso que non,
09:48
not until they're of working
and tax-paying and military-serving age.
and tax-paying and military-serving age.
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3456
non até que chegan á idade de traballar
e pagar impostos e ser soldados.
e pagar impostos e ser soldados.
09:52
We tell them we'll see them in 18 years,
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1905
Moi ben, xa os veremos en 18 anos,
09:54
and getting there is kind of on them.
188
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1762
chegar ata alí xa é cousa súa.
09:57
One of the reasons I know this
is that babies whose mothers
is that babies whose mothers
189
585854
2762
Unha das razóns polas que o sei
é porque os fillos de nais
é porque os fillos de nais
10:00
have 12 or more weeks at home with them
190
588640
2296
que pasan 12 ou máis semanas
na casa con eles
na casa con eles
10:02
are more likely to get their vaccinations
and their well checks in their first year,
and their well checks in their first year,
191
590960
3976
teñen mais posibilidades de ser vacinados
e examinados no seu primeiro ano.
e examinados no seu primeiro ano.
10:06
so those babies are more protected
from deadly and disabling diseases.
from deadly and disabling diseases.
192
594960
4696
Eses nenos están máis protexidos
fronte a enfermidades mortais e perigosas.
fronte a enfermidades mortais e perigosas.
10:11
But those things are hidden
behind images like this.
behind images like this.
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3240
Imaxes coma esta agochan esas realidades.
10:18
America has a message for new mothers
who work and for their babies.
who work and for their babies.
194
606280
5496
Os EUA teñen unha mensaxe para as nais
traballadoras e os seus fillos.
traballadoras e os seus fillos.
10:23
Whatever time you get together,
you should be grateful for it,
you should be grateful for it,
195
611800
3776
Deberías estar agradecida
polo tempo que tes co teu fillo,
polo tempo que tes co teu fillo,
10:27
and you're an inconvenience
196
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2736
e es un estorbo
10:30
to the economy and to your employers.
197
618360
3016
para a economía e para os teus xefes.
10:33
That narrative of gratitude
runs through a lot of the stories I hear.
runs through a lot of the stories I hear.
198
621400
4536
Esta narrativa da gratitude
existe en moitas historias que escoito.
existe en moitas historias que escoito.
10:37
A woman told me,
199
625960
1656
Unha muller díxome:
10:39
"I went back at eight weeks
after my C-section
after my C-section
200
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2176
"Volvín ás oito semanas da miña cesárea
10:41
because my husband was out of work.
201
629840
1816
porque o meu home non tiña traballo.
10:43
Without me, my daughter
had failure to thrive.
had failure to thrive.
202
631680
2736
Sen min, a milla filla
tivo problemas para desenvolverse.
tivo problemas para desenvolverse.
10:46
She wouldn't take a bottle.
203
634440
1296
Non tomaba o biberón.
10:47
She started losing weight.
204
635760
1616
Empezou a perder peso.
10:49
Thankfully, my manager
was very understanding.
was very understanding.
205
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2816
Por sorte, o meu xefe foi moi comprensivo.
10:52
He let my mom bring my baby,
206
640240
1536
Miña nai puido traer o neno,
10:53
who was on oxygen and a monitor,
207
641800
2296
que estaba con osíxeno e monitorizado
10:56
four times a shift so I could nurse her."
208
644120
2120
catro veces por quenda
para que o aleitase".
para que o aleitase".
10:59
There's a little club
of countries in the world
of countries in the world
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647960
3376
Hai un pequeno club de países no mundo
11:03
that offer no national
paid leave to new mothers.
paid leave to new mothers.
210
651360
3856
que non ofrece
baixas pagadas estatais ás nais.
baixas pagadas estatais ás nais.
11:07
Care to guess who they are?
211
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2456
Saben cales son?
11:09
The first eight make up eight million
in total population.
in total population.
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3936
Os primeiros oito suman
en total oito millóns de habitantes.
en total oito millóns de habitantes.
11:13
They are Papua New Guinea,
Suriname and the tiny island nations
Suriname and the tiny island nations
213
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3496
Son Papua Nova Guinea,
Surinam e as pequenas illas-nación
Surinam e as pequenas illas-nación
11:17
of Micronesia, Marshall Islands,
Nauru, Niue, Palau and Tonga.
Nauru, Niue, Palau and Tonga.
214
665200
6216
de Micronesia, as Illas Marshall,
Nauru, Niue, Palau e Tonga.
Nauru, Niue, Palau e Tonga.
11:23
Number nine is
the United States of America,
the United States of America,
215
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2376
O número nove son
os Estados Unidos de América
os Estados Unidos de América
11:25
with 320 million people.
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2080
con 320 millóns de persoas.
11:29
Oh, that's it.
217
677320
2336
E xa está.
11:31
That's the end of the list.
218
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2576
Ese é o final da lista.
11:34
Every other economy on the planet
219
682280
1616
Todas as outras economías do mundo
11:35
has found a way to make some level
of national paid leave work
of national paid leave work
220
683920
3896
atoparon un xeito de ofrecer
baixas de maternidade pagadas
baixas de maternidade pagadas
11:39
for the people doing the work
of the future of those countries,
of the future of those countries,
221
687840
2976
para as persoas cuxo traballo
significa o futuro deses países,
significa o futuro deses países,
11:42
but we say,
"We couldn't possibly do that."
"We couldn't possibly do that."
222
690840
4056
pero dicimos "Non é posible facelo".
11:46
We say that the market
will solve this problem,
will solve this problem,
223
694920
2496
Dicimos que o mercado
solucionará este problema
solucionará este problema
11:49
and then we cheer when corporations
offer even more paid leave to the women
offer even more paid leave to the women
224
697440
4336
e celebrámolo cando as empresas
ofrecen máis baixas pagadas ás mulleres,
ofrecen máis baixas pagadas ás mulleres,
11:53
who are already the highest-educated
and highest-paid among us.
and highest-paid among us.
225
701800
3256
que son xa as que teñen mellores estudos
e soldos de entre nós.
e soldos de entre nós.
11:57
Remember that 88 percent?
226
705080
1816
Lembran o 88 por cento?
11:58
Those middle- and low-income women
are not going to participate in that.
are not going to participate in that.
227
706920
3840
As mulleres con soldos medios e baixos
non reciben esas axudas.
non reciben esas axudas.
12:03
We know that there are staggering
economic, financial, physical
economic, financial, physical
228
711880
5456
Sabemos que este enfoque ten
asombrosos custos económicos,
financeiros, físicos e emocionais.
financeiros, físicos e emocionais.
12:09
and emotional costs to this approach.
229
717360
2536
12:11
We have decided --
decided, not an accident,
decided, not an accident,
230
719920
4016
Demos en decidir
--en decidir, non por accidente--
--en decidir, non por accidente--
12:15
to pass these costs directly
on to working mothers and their babies.
on to working mothers and their babies.
231
723960
3936
cargarlles estes custos ás mulleres
traballadoras e aos seus fillos.
traballadoras e aos seus fillos.
12:19
We know the price tag is higher
for low-income women,
for low-income women,
232
727920
2656
Sabemos que o prezo é alto
para mulleres con soldo baixo,
para mulleres con soldo baixo,
12:22
therefore disproportionately
for women of color.
for women of color.
233
730600
2776
inda máis desproporcionado
para as mulleres de color.
para as mulleres de color.
12:25
We pass them on anyway.
234
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2456
Cargámoslles os custos igual.
12:27
All of this is to America's shame.
235
735880
2616
Todo isto é a vergoña de América.
12:30
But it's also to America's risk.
236
738520
3896
Pero é tamén o risco de América.
12:34
Because what would happen
237
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1896
Porque podería pasar
12:36
if all of these individual
so-called choices to have babies
so-called choices to have babies
238
744360
4056
que todas estas supostas decisións
de ter fillos
de ter fillos
12:40
started to turn into individual choices
not to have babies.
not to have babies.
239
748440
4000
se volvesen
decisións individuais de non telos.
decisións individuais de non telos.
12:45
One woman told me,
240
753320
1696
Unha muller díxome:
12:47
"New motherhood is hard.
It shouldn't be traumatic.
It shouldn't be traumatic.
241
755040
3256
"A maternidade moderna é difícil.
Non debería ser un trauma.
Non debería ser un trauma.
12:50
When we talk about expanding
our family now,
our family now,
242
758320
2256
Cando agora falamos
de aumentar a familia,
de aumentar a familia,
12:52
we focus on how much time I would have
to care for myself and a new baby.
to care for myself and a new baby.
243
760600
4296
centrámonos no tempo que teremos
para coidar de nós e do neno.
para coidar de nós e do neno.
12:56
If we were to have to do it again
the same way as with our first,
the same way as with our first,
244
764920
3296
Se tivésemos que facer igual
que co primeiro fillo,
que co primeiro fillo,
13:00
we might stick with one kid."
245
768240
1640
talvez teriamos un só neno".
A taxa de natalidade que os EUA precisan
13:03
The birthrate needed in America
to keep the population stable
to keep the population stable
246
771800
2896
para manter a poboación
é de 2,1 fillos por muller.
é de 2,1 fillos por muller.
13:06
is 2.1 live births per woman.
247
774720
2136
13:08
In America today, we are at 1.86.
248
776880
3976
Hoxe temos un 1,86.
13:12
We need women to have babies,
249
780880
2296
Precisamos que as mulleres teñan fillos,
13:15
and we are actively disincentivizing
working women from doing that.
working women from doing that.
250
783200
4536
e estamos desanimando ás mulleres
traballadoras que poderían facelo.
traballadoras que poderían facelo.
13:19
What would happen to work force,
to innovation, to GDP,
to innovation, to GDP,
251
787760
3216
Que pasaría coa poboación
activa, a innovación e o PIB
activa, a innovación e o PIB
13:23
if one by one, the working mothers
of this country were to decide
of this country were to decide
252
791000
4136
se unha a unha,
as mulleres deste país decidisen
as mulleres deste país decidisen
13:27
that they can't bear
to do this thing more than once?
to do this thing more than once?
253
795160
3360
que non poden facer isto máis dunha vez?
13:31
I'm here today with only
one idea worth spreading,
one idea worth spreading,
254
799680
3496
Estou aquí hoxe cunha única idea
que paga a pena compartir
que paga a pena compartir
13:35
and you've guessed what it is.
255
803200
2136
e xa saben cal é.
13:37
It is long since time
for the most powerful country on Earth
for the most powerful country on Earth
256
805360
3696
Chegou a hora
de que o país máis poderoso da Terra
de que o país máis poderoso da Terra
13:41
to offer national paid leave
257
809080
2056
ofreza baixas de maternidade pagadas
13:43
to the people doing the work
of the future of this country
of the future of this country
258
811160
2715
para as persoas que traballan
polo futuro deste país
polo futuro deste país
13:45
and to the babies
who represent that future.
who represent that future.
259
813899
2877
e para os nenos
que representan este futuro.
que representan este futuro.
13:48
Childbirth is a public good.
260
816800
2136
O nacemento é un ben de interese público.
13:50
This leave should be state-subsidized.
261
818960
2536
A baixa debería ser un subsidio estatal.
13:53
It should have no exceptions
for small businesses,
for small businesses,
262
821520
2496
Non debería haber excepcións
para negocios pequenos,
para negocios pequenos,
13:56
length of employment or entrepreneurs.
263
824040
2456
duración do traballo ou emprendedores.
13:58
It should be able
to be shared between partners.
to be shared between partners.
264
826520
2376
Debería poderse compartir
entre os proxenitores.
entre os proxenitores.
14:00
I've talked today a lot about mothers,
265
828920
1976
Falei deste tema con moitas nais,
14:02
but co-parents matter on so many levels.
266
830920
2680
pero os pais son chave a moitos niveis.
14:07
Not one more woman
should have to go back to work
should have to go back to work
267
835520
3096
Ningunha muller debería volver ao traballo
14:10
while she is hobbling and bleeding.
268
838640
3176
mentres coxea e sangra.
14:13
Not one more family should have
to drain their savings account
to drain their savings account
269
841840
3656
Ningunha familia debería
consumir os seus aforros
consumir os seus aforros
14:17
to buy a few days
of rest and recovery and bonding.
of rest and recovery and bonding.
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para mercar uns días de descanso,
recuperación e achegamento.
recuperación e achegamento.
14:21
Not one more fragile infant
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Ningún neno fraxil
14:23
should have to go directly
from the incubator to day care
from the incubator to day care
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tería que ir directamente
da incubadora á gardería
da incubadora á gardería
14:26
because his parents have used up
all of their meager time
all of their meager time
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porque os seus pais usaron
todo o seu escaso tempo
todo o seu escaso tempo
14:29
sitting in the NICU.
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sentados na UCI.
14:30
Not one more working family
should be told that the collision
should be told that the collision
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A ningunha familia traballadora
deberìa dicírselle
deberìa dicírselle
que a relación entre o seu traballo,
que precisan, e a maternidade que queren
que precisan, e a maternidade que queren
14:33
of their work, their needed work
and their needed parenthood,
and their needed parenthood,
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14:38
is their problem alone.
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é o seu problema.
14:40
The catch is that when this is happening
to a new family, it is consuming,
to a new family, it is consuming,
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O problema é que cando isto lle pasa
a unha nova familia, é esgotador,
a unha nova familia, é esgotador,
14:45
and a family with a new baby
is more financially vulnerable
is more financially vulnerable
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e unha familia cun neno
é máis vulnerable economicamente
é máis vulnerable economicamente
14:48
than they've ever been before,
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do que nunca antes fora,
14:49
so that new mother cannot afford
to speak up on her own behalf.
to speak up on her own behalf.
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así que a nai non pode falar por si mesma.
14:53
But all of us have voices.
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Pero todos nós temos voces.
14:55
I am done, done having babies,
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Eu xa non vou ter máis fillos,
14:59
and you might be pre-baby,
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e vostede pode ser pre-neno,
15:01
you might be post-baby,
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pode ser post-neno
15:02
you might be no baby.
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pode ser ningún neno.
15:04
It should not matter.
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Tanto debería ter.
15:06
We have to stop framing this
as a mother's issue,
as a mother's issue,
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Deixemos de entendelo
como un problema das nais,
como un problema das nais,
15:08
or even a women's issue.
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nin sequera das mulleres.
15:10
This is an American issue.
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É un problema dos EUA.
15:14
We need to stop buying the lie
that these images tell us.
that these images tell us.
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Temos que deixar de tragar
a mentira das imaxes que nos amosan.
a mentira das imaxes que nos amosan.
15:17
We need to stop being comforted by them.
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Temos que deixar de aceptar a súa calma.
15:20
We need to question
why we're told that this can't work
why we're told that this can't work
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Temos que cuestionar por que din
que isto non pode funcionar
que isto non pode funcionar
15:22
when we see it work
everywhere all over the world.
everywhere all over the world.
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cando vemos que funciona
en todo o mundo.
en todo o mundo.
15:26
We need to recognize
that this American reality
that this American reality
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Temos que recoñecer
que esta realidade americana
que esta realidade americana
15:29
is to our dishonor and to our peril.
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é a nosa vergoña e o noso problema.
15:33
Because this is not,
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Porque isto non é,
15:35
this is not,
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isto non é
15:37
and this is not
what a working mother looks like.
what a working mother looks like.
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e isto non é
o aspecto dunha nai traballadora.
15:42
(Applause)
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(Aplauso)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jessica Shortall - Strategy consultant, social entrepreneur and authorJessica Shortall is a working mom of two and author of Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom's Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work.
Why you should listen
What do breastfeeding and paid leave for working mothers, sustainable eye care, hunger, green investing, giving shoes and the business case for LGBT equality have in common?
For Jessica Shortall, they have all been opportunities to change the world: challenges that need sustainable solutions and require a deep understanding of market forces, audiences, and cultures. They all require an intense dive into data, and they all benefit from powerful storytelling.
Shortall has provided strategy consulting to dozens of businesses, social enterprises, non-profit organizations and campaigns in the US, UK and beyond. Her first book, Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom's Guide to Surviving Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work, was inspired by her own experiences of circumnavigating the globe with a breast pump. She interviewed hundreds of working mothers and dozens of HR professionals to create a practical, relatable, judgment-free guide for women who want to try to continue breastfeeding after they've returned to work.
Shortall started her adult life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan, and she haven't stopped searching for ways to change the world since, across non-profit and for-profit worlds. In the early 2000s, she co-founded and franchised a non-profit organization that is now active in more than 40 communities. In 2006, she received an MBA with honors from the University of Oxford, as a Skoll Scholar in Social Entrepreneurship. She went on to spend three years providing consulting services to social entrepreneurs. From 2009 to 2014, she was the first Director of Giving at TOMS Shoes, hired to build out the now-iconic One for One giving mission and strategy.
She currently lives in Dallas, TX with her husband Clay and her two children.
Jessica Shortall | Speaker | TED.com