1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910997191303321

Autore

Lütolf Meret

Titolo

The Balancing Act of Working Mothers and Caring Fathers : Impact of Family Policy on Egalitarianism in Families in Western Democracies / / by Meret Lütolf

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Wiesbaden : , : Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden : , : Imprint : Springer VS, , 2025

ISBN

9783658477165

3658477164

Edizione

[1st ed. 2025.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (XVII, 220 p. 21 illus., 4 illus. in color.)

Disciplina

361.61

362

Soggetti

Family policy

Children, Youth and Family Policy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

INTRODUCTION -- THEORY -- RESEARCH DESIGN -- EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS -- CONCLUSION.

Sommario/riassunto

This Open-Access-book explores how egalitarian parental leave policies can support a more balanced division of paid work and caregiving. Introducing a novel analysis grid and a unique dataset, Meret Lütolf examines parental leave policies in five countries – United States, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and Sweden – revealing how fully paid, non-transferable leave can promote gender-neutral caregiving roles. Key findings highlight the connection between longer paternal leave and a more equal distribution of unpaid work, along with fathers’ willingness to reduce paid work hours in favor of caregiving. By combining multiple research methods, the study links policy intentions with real-life outcomes and identifies feasible reforms, including full wage replacement, that can enhance egalitarianism without raising policy costs. Offering valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates, this book demonstrates how parental leave policies can contribute to more equal family dynamics and address broader gender inequalities in society. About the author Dr. Meret Lütolf is a political scientist and works as a research associate at the Institute of Political



Science at the University of Bern, Switzerland. The focus of her research and teaching lies in the comparative analysis of family policies, with a particular emphasis on parental leave policies, gendered work patterns and time use, and social politics in a broader sense. .