Gendered Parental Leave
Almost
all Finnish fathers take up paternity leave
when they have a newborn but the parental leave period that follows
tends to remain very gendered. In fact, it is reported that only
about 2%
of fathers take up parental leave compared to nearly all mothers.
Although generous changes to family leave policies have increased the percentage of fathers taking up parental leave, the length of the leave taken by these fathers has decreased drastically. Additionally, despite Finland’s attempt to improve family policy for fathers by
implementing the “father’s month” bonus period, it is estimated that only 9% of all fathers
who qualify for this bonus leave period are actually taking advantage of
it. Overall, the strikingly low rate of
parental leave among fathers is creating a strong awareness of the
necessity for more father-friendly policies.
Father friendly policies and those promoting gender equality are extremely important in current Finnish legislation but it is not only governmental policy that needs to change. The likelihood of a father taking up shared parental leave depends heavily on both the mother’s position in the labor market and persistent gender roles relative to care and breadwinning responsibilities. Consequently, a father’s take up of parental leave is positively influenced by educational level, family economy and a more equal division of
labor in the household. The
key deciding factor for Finnish fathers to take up leave is their ideological
belief
that childcare is a responsibility to be equally shared between
parents,
consequently rejecting the male breadwinner ideology. Therefore,
despite Finland's progressive reputation, there is still quite a ways
to go before fathers are adequately represented when it comes to
parental leave.
Although generous changes to family leave policies have increased the percentage of fathers taking up parental leave, the length of the leave taken by these fathers has decreased drastically. Additionally, despite Finland’s attempt to improve family policy for fathers by
implementing the “father’s month” bonus period, it is estimated that only 9% of all fathers
who qualify for this bonus leave period are actually taking advantage of
it. Overall, the strikingly low rate of
parental leave among fathers is creating a strong awareness of the
necessity for more father-friendly policies. Father friendly policies and those promoting gender equality are extremely important in current Finnish legislation but it is not only governmental policy that needs to change. The likelihood of a father taking up shared parental leave depends heavily on both the mother’s position in the labor market and persistent gender roles relative to care and breadwinning responsibilities. Consequently, a father’s take up of parental leave is positively influenced by educational level, family economy and a more equal division of
labor in the household. The
key deciding factor for Finnish fathers to take up leave is their ideological
belief
that childcare is a responsibility to be equally shared between
parents,
consequently rejecting the male breadwinner ideology. Therefore,
despite Finland's progressive reputation, there is still quite a ways
to go before fathers are adequately represented when it comes to
parental leave.Image courtesy of John Kirriemuir
References:
- Lammi-Taskula, Johnanna. 2008. "Doing Fatherhood: Understanding the Gendered Use of Parental Leave in Finland". Fathering 6(2):133.
- Plantenga, Janneke and Chantal Remery. 2005. Reconciliation of Work and Private Life: A Comparative Review of Thirty European Countries. Luxembourg: European Commission.
