189
Views
10
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Which fathers use their rights? Swedish fathers who take parental leave

Pages 365-370 | Published online: 01 Jul 2010
 

Abstract

This research project focuses on fathers who have taken a relatively large share of the total parental leave period available to families in Sweden. Based on a questionnaire to fathers who took at least 120 days of leave in Gothenburg between 1992 and 1999, identified through official records, the study found that most of these fathers were the main caregivers of their children during their leave period. Some fathers, though, reported that they had not been the main caregivers during the leave period. Immigrant fathers were well represented in the sample. Comparison with Swedish-born fathers revealed high levels of unemployment among the partners of the immigrant fathers: most of the partners of Swedish-born fathers were earning in 1999. Swedish-born fathers were also more likely to report doing more of other domestic tasks, in addition to childcare, while on leave. This may be related to more mothers with Swedish-born partners working during the time when fathers were taking leave. The majority of fathers in both groups reported the relationship with their child as the main reason for taking leave. Éste proyecto de investigación se trata de hombres que han tomado relativamente una gran parte del periodo total de permiso laboral (baja por maternidad/paternidad) a disposición de familias en Suecia. Se administro un cuestionario a padres que tomaron más de 120 días de baja en Goteborg entre 1992 y 1999, según archivos oficiales. Resultados indican que gran parte de estos padres daban la mayoría del cuidado a los niños durante su periodo de permiso. Sin embargo, unos 15 por ciento dijeron que habían tomado o insuficiente o ningún permiso, o que no eran el cuidador principal. Padres inmigrantes estaban bien representados en la muestra. Había altos niveles de desempleo entre las parejas de los padres inmigrantes: en cambio, todas las parejas de los padres nacidos en Suecia ganaban en 1999. Padres nativos suecos informaron con más frecuencia que hacían maés de las tareas domesticas, además de cuidar a los niños durante el periodo de permiso. Es posible que éste resultado se vincula con el hecho de que más madres con parejas nacidos en Suecia trabajaban fuera de casa mientras los padres tomaban permiso laboral. La mayoría de los padres de ambos grupos dijeron que la relación con su hijo fue el motivo más importante por tomar permiso laboral.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.