Equality laws making things worse?

There have been comments recently that increasing rights and additional legislative protection for women are having the opposite result to the one wanted.

In a bid to address inequality the government has improved maternity rights i.e. by ensuring women are entitled to the same benefits whilst on additional maternity leave, introduced flexible working, parental leave, sex discrimination legislation etc. The objectives of these reforms being to protect women from suffering any detriment by choosing to take leave to look after children and more importantly to make having a career and a family not impossible. It should be said that flexible working and parental leave are also available to men but studies have shown men to be somewhat reluctant, for various reasons, to exercise these rights.

Controversially however, it seems all of the above have turned women into even less desirable employees than before. Whilst in the past, inequality may have been a result of stereotypes and chauvinism, it is now stemming from the fact that women are simply too expensive to hire. Small businesses are simply unable to deal with the bureaucracy and additional costs involved with women exercising their maternity rights. So that whilst bigger companies are in a position to deal with such issues, and ensure they do, smaller business are caught between ensuring they comply with legislation at whatever the cost or leave themselves open for discrimination claims.

If the above is correct then what is the solution? Should we have reduced maternity rights, like the US where women have 12 weeks? Is it right to potentially sacrifice family time for working time so as not to undo years of equality legislation?

I am loathed, as a female professional, to think that women cannot have it both ways i.e. have a family and career without either suffering but I have found myself questioning this. When legislation only provides for two weeks paternity leave, are we fighting a losing battle? Are we wanting our cakes as well as eating them?!