How much freedom do fathers have? Do fathers have real choices when it comes to decisions about how to divide their time between paid work and caring for the kids at home? And where do government and organisational policies fit in? One of the major societal changes of the past century has been the rise of female employment, particularly in the peak child rearing.  But over the same period, there has been much less change in men's employment rates. Why hasn't the rise in women's employment been accompanied by a drop in men's employment? And why is part time work still so much less common among men than it is among women? One answer is that the patterns we're seeing here are just the product of free choices. But choices are never made in a vacuum, and freedom of choice comes in degrees. In this episode, we look at the laws, policies, and organisational practices that constrain dads’ choices.

Our guests in this episode are Professor Miranda Stewart and Professor Heejung Chung.

How much freedom do fathers have? Do fathers have real choices when it comes to decisions about how to divide their time between paid work and caring for the kids at home? And where do government and organisational policies fit in? One of the major societal changes of the past century has been the rise of female employment, particularly in the peak child rearing.  But over the same period, there has been much less change in men's employment rates. Why hasn't the rise in women's employment been accompanied by a drop in men's employment? And why is part time work still so much less common among men than it is among women? One answer is that the patterns we're seeing here are just the product of free choices. But choices are never made in a vacuum, and freedom of choice comes in degrees. In this episode, we look at the laws, policies, and organisational practices that constrain dads’ choices.
Our guests in this episode are Professor Miranda Stewart and Professor Heejung Chung.

Welcome to Working Fathers, a podcast about dads, families and work. This podcast looks at the many different roles fathers play in contemporary Australian families and society – and how policy can better recognise, value and support fatherhood. We look at the rewards and transformations of fatherhood, the challenges of balancing the demands of work and family, and the sometimes competing demands of being a good father and a good worker. We also explore how policies and practices, from tax law to household chores, continue to shape the daily lives of working fathers and their families. With the help of experts from Australia and overseas, we look at why fathers’ primary role is still breadwinning, how fatherhood has evolved over time, what it might look in the future, and why policies and practices that open up greater choices for working fathers and their families are the key to enhanced wellbeing, a more gender equal society, and fairer workplaces.

Welcome to Working Fathers, a podcast about dads, families and work. This podcast looks at the many different roles fathers play in contemporary Australian families and society – and how policy can better recognise, value and support fatherhood. We look at the rewards and transformations of fatherhood, the challenges of balancing the demands of work and family, and the sometimes competing demands of being a good father and a good worker. We also explore how policies and practices, from tax law to household chores, continue to shape the daily lives of working fathers and their families. With the help of experts from Australia and overseas, we look at why fathers’ primary role is still breadwinning, how fatherhood has evolved over time, what it might look in the future, and why policies and practices that open up greater choices for working fathers and their families are the key to enhanced wellbeing, a more gender equal society, and fairer workplaces.

Advertisement