The Balancing Act of Working Mothers and Caring Fathers

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.