Fathers are still expected to be breadwinners, while mothers pick up childcare despite the supposed revolution of gender roles, research shows.
The study showed that a lack of discussion about parenthood between couples means that traditional roles remain 'engraved and undisputed' – even if the mother earns more money.
Women usually lead conversations about parental leave, work and childcare and there is little discussion about the man's work schedule, even if he is the lower earner.
And in some cases men feel 'uncertain about how they can start the conversation' without deploying their partner's right to full maternity leave, the study of University College London (UCL) found.
Clare Stovell, from the Social Research Institute of UCL, said her work indicated that people still have 'traditional ideas' about gender roles and do not realize that they must have proactive discussions about sharing work and childcare responsibilities.
The study showed that a lack of discussion about parenthood between couples means that traditional roles are engraved and undisputed (stock image)
Women usually lead conversations about parental leave, work and childcare and there is little discussion about the man's work schedule (stock image)
The study – involving interviews with 25 professional couples, including engineers, teachers and lawyers – showed that taking shared parental leave remains low and 'not much has changed'.
It thought that decisions about the responsibilities of children in general do not include the man's work schedule and are more often affected by external factors such as waiting lists for daycare centers.
A father said to researchers: 'having that conversation with an expectant mother who is also pregnant … I would not want to go there!
“I think if you just go to your wife or girlfriend:” Do you want to share your motherhood, “I don't know … you can get the wrong response.”
Mrs. Stovell added: 'These interviews indicate that there are engraved and undisputed expectations for fathers to work full -time, while mothers take the primary care role through long maternity leave, followed by a reduction in working hours, even when women are equal or higher Earners.
The study – involving interviews with 25 professional couples, including engineers, teachers and lawyers, showed that the recording of shared parental leave remains low and 'not much has changed' (stock photo)
“Despite the expectation that couples would discuss and negotiate about decisions of the work family before they become parents, these findings suggest that many make these decisions individually, especially women, and often without explicit discussions.”
Women and men at the start of their career must be actively encouraged and supported to proactively plan changes in their work schemes in the case of having children, “said Mrs. STOVELL.
She added that employers could support couples by offering more generous paternity leave and support for flexible work.
The research was published in the Journal of Family Studies.
