Shared parental leave and the sexual family: the importance of encouraging men to care

Abstract

This paper considers how shared parental leave could achieve its aim of encouraging fathers to provide care. I will argue that achieving this ambition is dependent upon the legislation continuing to be available only to those performing a parenting role, when two parents are providing childcare. Despite the problems with the two parent family model, it should be retained temporarily because it has unique potential to encourage men to care, as highlighted by Swedish legislation. This is the most effective way to challenge gender inequality. Shared parental leave should only be made available to a wider category of carers after men have been given a realistic chance to care. Widening access earlier risks reinforcing women's association with caring work.

The shared parental leave framework: Failing to fit working-class families?

“…Existing academic work offers several reasons why SPL is not practically enabling many fathers to adopt a more care-focused role. In terms of the first ‘shaping’ aspect identified above, scholars have concentrated on ‘nuts and bolts’ problems with the SPL legislation which have contributed towards its low uptake (see Mitchell, 2019, 2022). We argue that a number of these issues particularly hinder the working classes’ access to SPL.…”

“…Under the existing framework, single mothers, without a partner to transfer leave to, may find themselves 'overwhelmed' by their dual commitments to paid-work and the family (Mitchell, 2019). These families would be better supported were eligibility for leave to be broadened to wider family members (Mitchell, 2019).…”

“…Under the existing framework, single mothers, without a partner to transfer leave to, may find themselves 'overwhelmed' by their dual commitments to paid-work and the family (Mitchell, 2019). These families would be better supported were eligibility for leave to be broadened to wider family members (Mitchell, 2019). In fact, intact cohabiting working-class partnerships may also benefit from such a measure, given the importance of extended family members and friends in providing care within this context.…”

Fathers, Childcare and COVID-19

“…What made the UK and German experiences dissimilar is the divergent treatment accorded to fathers’ caring role by their respective parental leave policies. Contrasting with the stated aim to ‘enable working fathers to take a more active role in caring for their children and working parents to share the care of their children’ (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 2012 , 3), the UK SPL regulations de facto prioritise mother’s caring role in various ways (Atkinson 2017 , 360; Mitchell 2019 , 410–411). Emblematic in this sense is the ‘mediated’ nature of fathers’ entitlement to SPL: the mother, once her eligibility is ascertained, allows the transfer of the leave to the father (Mitchell 2019 , 410).…”

“…Contrasting with the stated aim to ‘enable working fathers to take a more active role in caring for their children and working parents to share the care of their children’ (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 2012 , 3), the UK SPL regulations de facto prioritise mother’s caring role in various ways (Atkinson 2017 , 360; Mitchell 2019 , 410–411). Emblematic in this sense is the ‘mediated’ nature of fathers’ entitlement to SPL: the mother, once her eligibility is ascertained, allows the transfer of the leave to the father (Mitchell 2019 , 410). On the other hand, the German policy assertively promotes paternal engagement in childcare not only by granting fathers an autonomous right to parental leave, but especially by reserving some portion of (well-)paid parental leave to fathers.…”