Designing Parental Leave Policy : The Norway Model and the Changing Face of Fatherhood

Many of the Nordic countries have designed parental leave policies in ways that can promote participation of fathers in child care. Norway was the first country to introduce a father-specific leave quota in 1993. This quota is non-transferable and generously paid, and Norway has functioned as a sort of laboratory for testing such radical policies. This book is a collection of research publications from three studies conducted at various stages since the introduction of the quota. It looks at its various design characteristics and possible consequences such as take-up, framing of the leave, what fathers do when on leave, how they develop as caregivers and competent parents, how working life relates to male employees with care obligations in terms of parental leave, how fathers adapt their leave to work and how immigrant fathers relate to the laws and expectations directed to fathers in Norway. Although the chapters are based on different qualitative studies, they show changes in employed men’s fathering practices over the years and how the parental leave design may have contributed to this change. Front cover Halftitle Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents 1. Introduction Part I: The Importance of Leave Design 2. Fathers’ Sense of Entitlement to Earmarked and Shared Parental Leave 3. Decomposing Policy Design: Outsider-Within Perspectives 4. Flexible Use of the Father’s Quota: Problems and Possibilities Part II: Caregiving – Fathers in Transition 5. Masculinity and Child Care 6. Home Alone on Leave or with the Mother Present 7. Fathers Experiencing Solo Leave: Change and Continuities 8. Immigrant Fathers Framing Parental Leave and Caregiving Part III: Reconciling Work and Care 9. Changing Fathers and Work–Life Boundary Setting 10. Negotiating Parental Leave and Working Life 11. Workplace Support of Fathers’ Parental Leave Use 12. Managers: Irreplaceable in Caregiving and Replaceable at Work 13. Conclusions: Change in Policies, Fathers’ Caregiving and the Ideal Worker Norm References Appendix: Data and Methods Index Back cover Nordic countries lead the way in facilitating better work-family integration through their design of parental leave policies that encourage men towards life courses with greater care responsibilities. Based on original research, this compelling book offers a novel analysis of the everyday parental practices of fathers and parents in Norway as a way of understanding the workings of labour market and welfare policies, whilst considering how migrant fathers might relate to the expectations such laws generate. The authors showcase how this style of men’s care work constitutes a re-gendering of men by promoting ‘caring masculinities’. Nordic Countries Lead The Way In Facilitating Better Work-family Integration Through Their Design Of Parental Leave Policies That Encourage Men Towards Life Courses With Greater Care Responsibilities. Based On Original Research, This Compelling Book Offers A Novel Analysis Of The Everyday Parental Practices On Fathers And Parents In Norway As A Way Of Understanding The Workings Of Labour Market And Welfare Policies, Whilst Considering How Migrant Fathers Might Relate To The Expectations Such Laws Generate. The Authors Showcase How This Style Of Men’s Care Work Constitutes A Re-gendering Of Men By Promoting ‘caring Masculinities’. This compelling book examines parental leave policies in Nordic countries, looking at how these laws encourage men towards life courses with greater care responsibilities. It considers the impact that these policies have had on gender equality and how they have led to a re-gendering of men by promoting ‘caring masculinities’. This volume examines parental leave policies in Nordic countries, looking at how these laws encourage men towards life courses with greater care responsibilities. It considers the impact that these policies have had on gender equality and how they have led to a re-gendering of men by promoting 'caring masculinities'