The duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, issued an open letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer calling for paid family leave in the United States.

The Duchess of Sussex, who wrote the letter as a mother, recognized the pandemic’s role in revealing “long-existing fault lines in our communities,” noting that millions of women had dropped out of the workforce at “an alarming rate” to care for their children.

“The working mom or parent is facing the conflict of being present or being paid. The sacrifice of either comes at a great cost.”

To support her argument, the duchess said, “I grew up on the $4.99 salad bar at Sizzler […] but what I do remember is the feeling: I knew how hard my parents worked to afford this because even at five bucks, eating out was something special, and I felt lucky.” She also mentioned her time working at a frozen yogurt store, waiting tables at restaurants, and babysitting to ‘cover odds and ends’.

“Many of our economic systems are past their expiration date, and as you well know, too many Americans are forced to shortchange themselves when it comes to what matters to them,” Markle wrote after listing a series of odd jobs she did since she was 13 years old.

In her letter, Markle stated, “I expect many of your constituents have their own version of that story. Perhaps you do too. People in our country work incredibly hard, and yet the ask is soft: for a level playing field to achieve their version of a common dream—what is fair, and equal, and right.”

In the letter, Markle admitted that she and her family do not suffer the same obstacles as other families when it comes to raising children.

“In June, my husband and I welcomed our second child,” the Duchess wrote. “Like any parents, we were overjoyed. Like many parents, we were overwhelmed. Like fewer parents, we weren’t confronted with the harsh reality of either spending those first few critical months with our baby or going back to work.”

“We knew we could take her home, and in that vital (and sacred) stage, devote any and everything to our kids and to our family. We knew that by doing so we wouldn’t have to make impossible choices about childcare, work, and medical care that so many have to make every single day.”

She also underpinned her views in her letter, noting that families should be able to care for their children while still pursuing their jobs.

Meghan Markle wrote in her letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer that the COVID-19 pandemic had “exposed long-existing fault lines in our communities.”
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

“No family should have to choose between earning a living and having the freedom to take care of their child (or a loved one, or themselves, as we would see with a comprehensive paid leave plan),” Meghan wrote.

The Duchess insisted that “[p]aid leave should be a national right, rather than a patchwork option limited to those whose employers have policies in place, or those who live in one of the few states where a leave program exists.

“If we’re going to create a new era of family first policies, let’s make sure that includes a strong paid leave program for every American that’s guaranteed, accessible, and encouraged without stigma or penalty,” she added.

To put things in perspective, the United States, while being one of the world’s wealthiest countries, is one of the few major economies that does not provide paid sick leave, maternity or paternity pay. Historically, it has been up to private firms to determine whether or not to give such benefits to their employees. According to reports, around a quarter of American businesses provide paid leave.

Unlike the United States, most countries already have paid leave rules in place for all employees, according to Markle.

The $3.5 trillion spending bill currently being debated in Congress includes a paid family and medical leave program.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

“Many other countries have robust programs that give months of time for both parents (birth or adoptive) to be home with their child. The United States, in stark contrast, does not federally guarantee any person a single day of paid leave. And fewer than one in four workers has dedicated paid family leave through their employer. I’m sure you agree that if we are to continue to be exceptional, then we can’t be the exception.”

Markle concluded her letter by urging the country to prioritize families over politics and not lose sight of what matters.

“So, on behalf of my family, Archie and Lili and Harry, I thank you for considering this letter, and on behalf of all families, I ask you to ensure this consequential moment is not lost,” Markle wrote.