Discussions were lively and provocative. Noting that the European Union was considering extending the length of maternity leave, University of Warsaw Professor Renata Siemienska questioned whether this was truly beneficial to women. She argued that such a policy reinforces the idea that child care is women's work, thus making women less competitive in the labor market. Diane Perrons of the London School of Economics concluded that, based on her research, the flexibility of the new economy was beneficial to some women, but Risa Lieberwitz, Cornell associate professor of labor law, argued that too often flexibility is gained at the price of security and of benefits such as health insurance. Friedan was critical of the American women's movement for focusing on abortion rights at the expense of such concerns as child care and economic issues.
Time is needed for family as well as other needs.
A number of follow-up activities in the wake of the conference are in the works. There are plans to publish conference proceedings and an anthology of conference papers. Participants also have committed to host focus group sessions in their respective countries, bringing issues raised at Bellagio to a wider range of scholars and decision-makers.