Do Father-Targeted Policy Measures Improve Gender Equality and Child Well-being?

In the current global economic context the future of men’s behaviour as fathers, partners and workers is uncertain. Despite the rise in the late twentieth century agenda setting ideal of “new father” as a “hands-on” direct carer of children, there are countervailing value positions and the preference for father as economic provider-in-chief remains a strong cultural force in many countries. Nevertheless, governments and civil societal actors across the world are attempting to fit fathers into work-family polices and continuing these efforts despite global economic turbulence.

In this lecture I will examine what we know about paternity leave and explicit father-targeted policy measures in different countries specific countries and assess their role in improving gender equality and child-wellbeing