Search results for "parental leave"

Pros and cons of family policies for mothers' labour market participation

2012

PurposeThe purpose of this editorial is to examine sociological research on the possibilities and pitfalls of social policies for mothers' employment participation, and identify research gaps in the existing literature. The paper aims to focus mainly on the implications of parental leave schemes on mothers' employment participation.Design/methodology/approachThe editorial discusses the inconsistencies in the current sociological debate on the impact of social policies on mothers' employment.FindingsThe relationship between parental leave policies and women's participation in the work force is complex. The literature shows a disagreement about whether such policies mitigate family‐related ca…

The sidelining of gender equality in a corporatist and knowledge-oriented regime : The case of failed family leave reform in Finland

2020

Reform of the family leave system has been on the Finnish political agenda for a long time but has proved to be a challenging task. The challenges relate to ideological differences between the political parties and to non-decision making in tripartite working groups, where the labour market parties participate in policy formulation. The article analyses the recent attempt to reform the Finnish family leave system under a right-conservative government (2015–2019) as an example of how diverging political ideologies and vested interests undermine adoption of government gender equality policy. The case also serves as an example of the growing influence of knowledge, and especially economic know…

2021

Abstract Applying social investment theory (SIT), we examined whether employment trajectories until midlife, with differential investments in education and employment, are associated with social investments during early life and with work-related well-being in midlife, with a special reference to potential differences between self-employment and paid work. In the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 6496; 2963 men, 3533 women), life-history calendars from age 16–45 were used to determine the respondents’ yearly employment statuses (student, full-time employee, part-time employee, self-employed, unemployed, on parental leave, on sabbatical leave or otherwise not working). Latent class ana…

Can fathers' leave take-up dismantle gendered parental responsibilities? Evidence from Finland

2022

Objective: This article reports on the associations of fathers' leave take-up with parents' care responsibilities when their child is around four years old. Background: In families with small children women continue to do more parental care work than men. Several studies, however, have suggested that fathers who take up parental leave also take more responsibility for childcare. Method: We applied logistic regression analysis to Finnish survey data collected in 2019 from the mothers and fathers of four-year-old children to find out whether father’s take-up and length of leave is related to fathers taking equal or more responsibility for different dimensions of parental responsibilities, inc…

Female work, family meeds and equal opportunity: a comparative analysis among EU legal systems

2013

Family Needs and Female Work: A Comparative Survey of Public Policies and Private Choices on Equal Opportunities

2015

Abstract Recent studies show that Italian women’s education and skills are high and that they have access to the job market, but, at the same time, there are many difficulties in maintaining a job in certain periods of their lives. Exactly, the critic period is connected to the choice of having children or a “traditional family” and, in general, with family duties. To explain the different percentage of women participation to job market in different countries, recent studies have looked to peculiar institutional structure of “municipal” job market and to social support services. The public offer of childcare and family support explains lots of the differences among different countries, but …

2019

Despite being the first country in the world to introduce paternity leave in 1978, Finland’s current national leave scheme is complex with regard to incentivizing fathers’ take-up. Taking the unique Finnish leave scheme as a case example, this article examines fathers’ motivations and barriers to leave. Although research on fathers’ take-up of leave in divergent leave policy contexts has increased dramatically, fathers’ motivations and barriers to leave have remained underresearched. The article reports on a survey sample of 852 Finnish fathers of infants who were taking paternity, parental, and other forms of leave, drawn from the Population Register Center. Results show that less than 20…

The Most Invisible Maternal Experience? Analysing How Maternal Regret Is Discussed in Finland

2021

AbstractIn Finland, becoming a mother is often constructed as an individual choice that ultimately leads to personal fulfilment and happiness, despite the occasional ‘negative’ feelings associated with motherhood such as exhaustion, frustration and tiredness. In this cultural atmosphere, maternal regret continues to be a subject that is hidden, forbidden and rarely scrutinised. It is perhaps surprising that in one of the world’s most gender egalitarian countries, which is also perceived to be one of the best countries in which to be a mother, women still testify that motherhood is limited to survival. We argue that, somewhat paradoxically, discussing the negative emotions of motherhood migh…

Fathers’ Leave Take-Up in Finland : Motivations and Barriers in a Complex Nordic Leave Scheme

2019

Despite being the first country in the world to introduce paternity leave in 1978, Finland’s current national leave scheme is complex with regard to incentivizing fathers’ take-up. Taking the unique Finnish leave scheme as a case example, this article examines fathers’ motivations and barriers to leave. Although research on fathers’ take-up of leave in divergent leave policy contexts has increased dramatically, fathers’ motivations and barriers to leave have remained underresearched. The article reports on a survey sample of 852 Finnish fathers of infants who were taking paternity, parental, and other forms of leave, drawn from the Population Register Center. Results show that less than 20%…

El RDL 6/2019 para la garantía de la igualdad de trato y de oportunidades entre mujeres y hombres en el empleo y la ocupación: Dios y el diablo en la…

2019

 Resumen. El artículo es un comentario crítico del contenido y alcance del recientemente aprobado RDL 6/2019 para la garantía de la igualdad de trato y de oportunidades entre mu­jeres y hombres en el empleo y la ocupación. La valoración positiva que, en general, la norma merece, se basa simplemente en su mera aprobación, que refuerza la idea de que la cuestión de la igualdad efectiva entre hombres y mujeres en el trabajo requiere medidas específicas. Sin embargo, el análisis detallado de los preceptos del RDL 6/2019 que se realiza en el trabajo conduce a la autora a la conclusión de que la mayoría de sus contenidos son insuficientes y que queda pendiente una reforma global y efectivamente t…