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Published: Thursday, 10 December 2020 11:36

Yesterday's Guardian reports ONS (Office for National Statistics) survey findings on the changing habits of British households from before, during and after the first lockdown. The data suggests that sharing of childcare and housework was seemingly temporary during the lockdown, and fathers who helped out with childcare during the first lockdown had reverted to past behaviours. The Guardian reports on some of our views on this.

A spokesman for Families Need Fathers, said society was not set up to enable couples to share childcare more equitably. “The ONS data shows that given the opportunity, fathers are able and willing to step up to the plate,” he said. “The UK has the biggest differential in statutory parental leave in the world, at 52 to two weeks between mothers and fathers. State support remains locked in a time that simply does not reflect the reality and diversity of family life today.”

When looking at the data, we should also take into consideration the significant seasonal differences in comparing how people spent time in April and September - everything from the effect of weather to children returning to school. ONS also seem to have resorted to sensationalising statistics e.g. "reverted to older patterns, such as women doing 99% more unpaid childcare than men" - however, the figures are 60.8% in Mar/Apr and 66.5% in Sept/Oct.

There will also have been differences in the numbers of people on furlough or laid-off in different sectors of the economy that will impact differently on women and men.

Currently, the UK offers the most generous maternity leave in The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - "OECD", but our Paternity leave is over 6 weeks shorter than the OECD average of 8 weeks. Evidence from international studies suggests that policies aimed at increasing fathers’ take-up of leave and pay in the first year can have a positive impact on the gender division of childcare and domestic work, at least in the short-term. OECD research also shows that fathers who take paternity or parental leave are more likely to perform tasks such as feeding and bathing children. And this is a lasting effect: Fathers who care for children early tend to stay more involved as children grow up.

It would be undoubtedly good to see more dads providing childcare. However, considering we have the biggest differential of statutory parental leave between mums and dads in the world (52 vs. 2 weeks), it is not reasonable to expect a permanent long-term shift in average childcare time.

If we want to see some potential improvements in gender equality, we need our policymakers to make flexible work by default, reserve a greater portion of paid parental leave exclusively for fathers, ensure leave arrangements are flexible and that paternity leave is properly funded to enable parents to take decisions based, without bias, to serve the best interests of their children and family.

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