Who says they aren't, Maz? Are you implying that marriage prevent women from "getting a say" on their own lives?

Low divorce rates tell me they're happy... or at least content, with their lives. Nothing wrong with that, is there?

Jeff, Manchester,

Interesting to see that Italy, the one with the lowest percentage of working women, also is the country with the lowest divorce rates in the developed world.
Jeff, Manchester,

But how happy are the women, Jeff? Or shouldn't women get a say on how they live their own lives?

Maz, Yorkshire, England

PP, London. I have no data with which to contradict your statement but I’d be delighted to see the empirical evidence on which you base your assertion that “ ..working women …..more often raise net contributors to society”. I'd also like to know your definition of a "net contributor"

Bob Finbow, Haverhill, England

Interesting to see that Italy, the one with the lowest percentage of working women, also is the country with the lowest divorce rates in the developed world.

Jeff, Manchester,

It IS a generalisation, but hard working woman are good role models and more often raise net contributors to society.

It's important that the detrimental affect of childbearing on a career is mitigated in some way or the opportunity cost will mean the % of disadvantaged children will increase.

PP, London, UK

The problem here is that of would-be parents being able to force others to finance their decision. At the margins, that means robbing other people - colleagues, employers, all taxpayers - the right to their OWN children because you have stolen so much tax from them that they can no longer afford it.

MS, London, UK

Equal pay and opportunities - fine. But equality isn't just about the workplace. In this material obsessed world that can be forgotten. I never wanted a career, but I wanted to be respected for who I am, for the differences between the sexes. Respect as a woman, not a 'co-worker'.

Nicki, southampton, Hampshire

You can please some men all of the time and you can please all men some of the time but most women are dissatisfied most of the time and you get the impression that the real dissatisfaction is about being women in the first place.

David, Cheltenham, Uk

I am a f/t manager & in October starting a part time degree, we are planning children next year. I will be taking 6 months off work then returning as my husband will be the one staying at home. I am the higher earner so the maternity laws don't work for everyone, he will get 2 weeks pay. Not fair.

Rebecca Noad, Kettering, England

This is due to the work-structure which is still male-bread-winner society based, making it impossible to hold full-time jobs and family-rearing at the same time(in EU women w full time jobs work 23 extra unpaid hours). While women of the 80s became men for their careers, women now refuse to do so.

Heejung Chung, Tilburg, Netherlands

A corporate career isn't the only model of success: smart women freelance, have portfolio careers or run a business. The corporate dinosaurs of this world are simply losing out on female talent: if Alan Sugar doesn't want to hire bright women because of his 'negative thoughts', that's his loss!

MB, Edinburgh,

I'm 32. Single. No kids. Don't really want kids. I'd love a year off work - will I get it? Not unless I quit, and who would pay the bills?
Be brutal with yourself - is your work, REALLY important? No-one ever says they wished they'd spent more time in the office.
Live more, work less, be happier.

Louise, Manchester, UK

"I have two kids a full time job managing two companies in a competitive market. I successfully manage a home, a family and a very demanding job. It is about balance. Not everyone can cope with the demanding role."

Aren't you just perfect Gemma? Good for you.

laura, Derbyshire,

Shoulder pads and stilettos - why is it always about appearance? As housework still falls chiefly to women no wonder they say they're happier in part-time work and men in full-time. And when the sexes are paid equally, let's ask again how many women would rather split the childcare more evenly.

Debbie Stowe, Bucharest, Romania

the problem is one of balance - the pendulum has swung too far and by doing so has created a situation where legislation has created more issues. the fact is that women have been told they can have it all . only to find its only on the basis that some people (men & women) are more equal than others

zugerman, zurich, switzerland

I'm a young American planning to move to Britain to be with my boyfriend so I'm glad there are regulations in place. Here paid maternity leave is not required legally. Discrimination & inequality will always exist but at least the issue is being debated. I will stay home with kids & work part time.

natalya, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

If they didn't create such a ridiculously unequal balance between male & female rights, the burden could be more shared.
Would women accept only 2 weeks maternity leave?
Why do they complain when they already get 9 months? Anyone who doesn't believe men should get equal rights has a selfish agenda

PP, London,

Take it you don't want children then Gary? It about balance - businesses need to be sure that they have people who can commit to a high level role, but at the same time, if a woman has worked for 15 years & is well qualified, they need to find ways to exploit that & allow her to continue to develop

Gemma, Notts,

The commercial world doesnt reject the working mother model,moreover it is not allowed to accept it,with the current economic climate in this country,industries are tightening their belts,I understand the dilema companies face and as a woking mother you have to have a good support network in place

Gemma, London,

Put simply, if people want to have children then they should have the money to support it.
Why should there be ANY paid leave? By all means allow unpaid leave, a child has to be cared for.
If you can't afford to have children then don't, after all it's a choice to have a child.

Paddy, Leicester,

If women enjoys bringing up children, and gives their siblings a happy and educational start, they need encouragement to pursue their "career in childcare " with good monetary means in their early years, woman with children who need a career , require good childcare and a support partner.

Valerie Andrews, Wokingham, Berkshire

The feminist ideal of "having it all" is outmoded and was always more a concept than a reality - very few can strike the elusive balance. I'm staggered people are surprised that somehow the commercial world rejects the working mother model when it so clearly benefits only one party.

Guy, London,

It is all nice but every "mother" is unique in her approach, I have two kids a full time job managing two companies in a competitive market. I successfully manage a home, a family and a very demanding job. It is about balance. Not everyone can cope with the demanding role.

Gemma, London, England

I'expecting my second baby and I'm still in charge in my managing position. I will stay at home only 4 months and I will be back at work right soon after that period. I work 8 hours a day and spend all my free time with my family. It is hard but I don't regret any decision made until now.

Marina, Roma, Italy

I agree with much of this, and when I look around for examples of (female) colleauges that 'have it all' there are none. The female high-flyers are single or childless, got their before they had kids and those with kids have hit the glass ceiling and making the most of being a working mum.

Fiona, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Alice, you are spot on... I have seen many a few pin-suited female corporate execs. starting up their career like high-flyers. Once married and burdened with the social and family commitments of being a mom, their career graph plummets down to sublimity.Many prefer to be freelance flexi-timers.

sandy, New Delhi, India

What about women who don't want kids? If you're in your 30's prospective employers will assume you're going off to breed soon - we'll be lumped in with the 'mommy brigade' and denied the opportunities available to our male counterparts.

tilly, leicester,

The real problem here is the discrimination that will arise towards all women of child bearing age when looking for work.
personally I am a young woman who does not want to have any children - yet any prospective employer will worry that I will leave and expect a years pay.

andrea, york,

The main point is that 'equality' does not mean that you should treat people the 'same'.
The rights afforded to women are used to discriminate against them, men want to get the benefits too, instead of blaming the 'greedy women' why not the policy makers who forgot to extend perks to men also?

Kate, Sydney, Australia

Women’s issues are prioritized over men’s, they are encouraged to have time off to make children - something which isn't even necessary due to global overpopulation. Women expect to have the same rights as men but extra rights as women. A level playing field has been created, time to play.

Gary, Liverpool, UK

I left full-time engineering work, for flexible part-time technical work partly from home. For 7 years now I have mostly been around for my children after school and although I occasionally experience a twinge of regret when I look at the careers of my male contemporaries, I'm really very happy.

Steffi Anderson, Perth, Scotland

It would be great if we could get away from this "one size fits all" success model for women (or men!) . People should be free to pursue career or family if they wish but there are limits in trying to do both and we have to be fair to employers who create the business that pays the wages.

John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK