The birth rate in France is low, at a rate of 1.8 children per family. (1) The French have a system of subsidized creches, or day care systems, and nursery schools, which helps allow continuous full-time employment. The school schedule is synchronized with work schedules. There is a 2-hour lunch from 11:30-1:30 so that the child can lunch with the family, or lunch can be arranged at the childcare center. There is also an after- hour baby-sitting service. There are not enough daycare centers to provide services for all the working parents, so there is a parental leave of absence, which includes a choice of 2-year's leave or part-time work. Women are allowed 16-18 weeks of paid maternity leave with a guarantee of re-employment. An employer may not fire a woman on grounds of pregnancy. Thus socialized medicine and protective company labor laws allow women to have children without loss of job seniority. For example, a company manager would get up to 2 years of fully paid leave following the birth of her baby, and she could go back to work part- time without loss of her job. No wonder French women seem to be more relaxed about motherhood compared to American women, who are part of dual- income families, and who might only get 4-weeks maternity leave. (Raleigh)

Women account for about 20% of the students in the universities. Until recently, they were a minority in economics, scientific, technical, and other highly valued disciplines. Women account for 50% of the students in business schools. (1)