Numerous males desire to fully embrace their fatherly responsibilities.
Research shows that women complete 44.3% more daily unpaid care work than men, according to the Family Ministry. Despite many fathers expressing a desire to spend more time with their children, they face obstacles created by current political structures.
A popular example of an involved father is Sebastian Tigges, known as @tigges on social media, who frequently discusses care work in his monologues. His presence might give the impression that modern fathers share equally in care responsibilities as mothers. However, contrary to this, only 1.9% of fathers with children younger than six took parental leave in 2022, compared to almost a quarter of mothers. This disparity, known as the gender care gap, amounts to 44.3%. What's causing this disconnect between social media portrayals and real life? And how can men be more active in parenting roles?
Sociologist and WZB President Jutta Allmendinger explains, "In all our surveys, fathers say they want to spend more time with their kids, while mothers want to increase their presence in the workforce." However, societal norms and expectations in businesses and politics maintain the status quo.
Allmendinger points out the impact of "expensive spouse splitting." This financial advantage leads mothers to stay at home longer and work part-time after childbirth, while men typically work full-time. Studies show this tendency.
According to author Patricia Cammarata, men's involvement in childcare generally increased; however, they tend to focus on "uncle-like" tasks - the enjoyable aspects of parenting, such as playing with children, but not the more mundane ones. Women still manage most of the administering, organizing, and supervising aspects.
This dynamic can be traced back to socialization. Women are raised to take on primary responsibility for care-related tasks, while men see themselves as helpful without fully grasping the complexity of those tasks. Consequently, unequal power dynamics can develop in partnerships.
In a representative survey by "Die Zeit", the WZB, and infas, men reported being capable in only three of twenty-one daily tasks - finances, maintenance, and handicrafts, as they don't question their roles. Cammarata explains: "Men are competent in those areas they're given tasks, but the processes behind these tasks remain unknown to them."
Fathers who don't take parental leave manage care work but mostly address it only when facing relationship issues. Eberhard Schäfer from the Father Center Berlin observes fathers are often overwhelmed and disappointed by the lack of appreciation for their efforts. But they do engage in caring for their children, although their leave distribution stems from partner negotiations.
Allmendinger suggests, "We need to change structures to alter cultures. If we could introduce the coalition agreement - the family start-up time and more father months - it would be a step towards escaping the spouse splitting." The family start-up time includes a two-week paid leave for the partner after birth; sadly, this policy hasn't been implemented yet. Eliminating the spouse splitting entirely would be challenging, but alternatives could be introduced, like transition regulations for pensions, allocating these savings towards supporting children rather than the marriage itself. Additionally, a shorter duration of parental allowance with a higher wage replacement might lessen financial strain for families during receipt of parental allowance from fathers.
Women are the primary caregivers who should also support their partners, according to Cammarata. This only works if the woman shares her skills and expertise with the man. He needs to take it seriously. Female experts like Cammarata suggest that women should avoid jumping in to do everything themselves, but rather clearly communicate the tasks that need to be done and when. "These details may be invisible to men, but they are crucial," she says.
For men to contribute more to household chores, it starts with taking paternity leave on their own. They should not share this time with their partners but use it exclusively to manage household tasks. This sends an important message that they are capable of taking on responsibility, adds Allmendinger. She argues that we won't make progress by pitting women against men. "We need to celebrate men's increased involvement in families. If we compare their roles to parents in the past, we can show respect for both genders and encourage continued participation," says Allmendinger.
Even if mothers have been discussing maternity leave, breastfeeding, and care work for a long time, it's still important to see public figures like Sebastian Tigges taking an active role in childcare, says Cammarata. "His message is essential. If we can start a conversation about the distribution of care work overall, that would be ideal."
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Women's rights to equal care responsibilities and share in spousal splitting are essential, given that research shows women complete nearly half of all unpaid care work. Addressing the gender care gap is crucial for promoting Women's rights, as seen in the disparity between mothers and fathers taking parental leave. International societies should implement policies, such as longer parental leave or transition regulations for pensions, to support men in becoming more active in parenting roles and share care responsibilities with their children.
The unequal distribution of care work and domestic tasks between men and women primarily roots in societal norms and expectations. Men's involvement in childcare often focuses on enjoyable tasks like playing with children, whereas women manage the more mundane and complex aspects. For a balanced sharing of care responsibilities, men must challenge these norms, take paternity leave, and actively engage in household chores.
Women's rights include equal access to resources, opportunities, and economic participation. In the context of care work and family life, this means sharing spousal splitting and household responsibilities equally with men. Promoting gender equality and women's rights in this area requires combined efforts from governments, societies, and individuals. By advocating for policies and practices that empower mothers and encourage men to take on equal care responsibilities, we can create a more equitable society for Children and future generations.
