New fathers still face traditional market expectation to stay on as breadwinners
3 min read
Society has started to move away from the idea of fathers as the breadwinning disciplinarians, but the workplace is slower to respond, says Neil Gray MP.
Scotland’s Year of the Dad 2016 was established by the Fathers Network Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government to promote the contribution fathers, or those in fatherly roles, make to child development, families and society
The 95 events across Scotland also helped to provide a greater understanding of the benefits reaped from organisations acknowledging the family roles of men.
It should be obvious, but recognising the role fathers play, or should play, does not in any way diminish the role of mothers.. Quite the opposite. I am clear and the research from Year of the Dad shows that society as a whole benefits from the positive involvement of fathers. The increased wellbeing, confidence and educational attainment of children is the biggest benefit as I see it.
And so getting it right for fathers is about getting it right for every child. And in supporting the Year of the Dad last year, the Scottish Government was clear that it was a central part of its gender equality policy.
Apart from expanding the father-friendly networks in Scotland, Year of the Dad helped to identify who was already working to help Dads fulfil their parenting responsibilities or support employers to recognise the benefit to them of Dads having a good work/home life balance. Over 300 champions were identified to help share inspiring stories and provide positive support for fathers. And it was working with employers to help them become dad and family friendly which is the most interesting and I hope to see replicated.
We are starting, rightly, to move as a society away from the definition of fathers as the breadwinning disciplinarians. But we haven't caught up in the workplace yet.
The shift in the desire of fathers to be more involved at home does not match the predicted uptake of parental leave by men of between 2-8%. There is still a reticence from men to ask to be at home more and a market expectation on them to continue in the traditional role as working breadwinners.
The only way to shift societal norms is to support or incentivise behaviour through policy and the current shared parental leave model is not promoted enough, nor does it go far enough in breaking workplace norms. For now employment law is decided at Westminster, which is why I hope we can spread the positive message of Year of the Dad further from Scotland so we can make the UK Government sit up and listen. We must do more to help Dads, and in turn help Mums and families, be the best they can be.
Neil Gray is MP for Airdrie & Shotts, SNP Spokesperson for Fair Work and Employment and Secretary of the APPG for Women and Work.
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