Policy and Politics
Fathers are 'kept out of family involvement'
One in four families is missing out on a father's involvement at home, according to new research.
The Fatherhood Institute's survey of 1,000 parents, published on Tuesday, found that a majority of mothers and fathers want to share key aspects of parenting such as changing nappies and reading with their children, but say that a lack of paternity leave and flexible working for fathers prevents them doing so.
The survey also shows how the gender wage gap has meant that men's greater earning potential or prospects traps them in the breadwinning role and mothers in the caring role.
The Fatherhood Institute is urging political parties to remove the barriers to parents taking on shared roles. It has published Six Signposts for Fatherhood - key directions for future policy that it says will help fathers do their best for their families.
The six signposts are:
1. Fathers should get more leave when their baby is born.
2. Paternity leave should be paid at 90 per cent of the salary.
3. New fathers should be given more information.
4. More fathers should be able to work flexibly.
5. Services in education, health, family support and social care should include fathers.
6. Fathers who do not live with their children should be supported to stay connected with them.
Rob Williams, chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute, said, 'Our system of parental leave is still stuck in the 1970s. Men and women want to choose how to balance work and childcare, but the current system prevents them doing so.
'Both mothers and fathers say that policy needs to catch up with reality. Dads need more leave when their baby is born, better paid paternity leave and the chance to work more flexibly. Men's requests for flexible working are still turned down more often than women's by employers and tribunals.'
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