Project Aim
The project evaluated the parental leave scheme and investigate whether the current scheme promotes gender equality.
Existing knowledge on gender equality effects of the parental leave scheme in Norway is largely based on families where fathers were entitled to a four-week fathers’ quota from 1993. This project analyzed the effects of an increase in the fathers’ quota to ten weeks from 2009 onwards.
Among other things, we investigated whether a more gender balanced parental leave uptake promotes equality in the home and in the workplace in the short and medium term. Furthermore, we looked at the importance of flexible leave of absence for the equality between parents at home and abroad, and the significance of the fact that the father is alone with the child during the leave period
Project Approach
The project consisted of two parts, one quantitative and one qualitative part. The quantitative analyzes were the largest part of the project. Based on registry data, we evaluated the effects of the expansion of the fathers’ quota on gender equality in employment, and what work-related factors may explain a more balanced parental leave.
The qualitative part explored factors that affect parents' actual distribution and use of leave - in addition to experiences with the sharing of care and job responsibilities after parental leave. The analyzes were based on in-depth interviews with fathers who have used the entire fathers’ quota or more, as well as on depth interviews with fathers with a limited parental leave uptake, conducted in connection with a previous project.
The project was also part of CORE – Centre for Research on Gender Equality at the Institute for Social Research.
Publications
Østbakken, Kjersti Misje; Halrynjo, Sigtona & Kitterød, Ragni Hege(2018). Foreldrepermisjon og likestilling: Foreldrepengeordningens betydning for likestilling i arbeidslivet og hjemme. Rapport – Institutt for samfunnsforskning. 15.
