Equal rights to paid parental leave and caring fathers- the case of Iceland

Ásdís A Arnalds,Guðný Björk Eydal,Ingólfur V Gíslason

doi:10.13177/irpa.a.2013.9.2.4

Abstract

In 2000 the Icelandic parliament adopted unanimously a new and radical law on parental leave. The leave was extended from six months to nine; divided between the parents so that fathers were allotted three months, mothers three and the remaining three divided between the two. One reason given for this division was to try to ensure that children received care from both parents. From the results of a questionnaire answered by parents who had their first child in 1997, 2003 or 2009 it was estimated whether the intention of the law was put into practice. The results indicate that the division of care between parents, from birth until three years, has changed in the intended direction and that this is mainly due to the law. The results also showed that this is least common among parents that do not live together. However, even amongst these parents the division of care is more equal among those who had their first child in 2009 than those who had their first in 1997. Finally, the results show that there is a direct correlation between the length of leave taken by the father and his involvement in care afterwards. Overall, these results indicate that the law has had the intended effect of providing children with care from both parents.

Highlights

In 2000 a new law on paid parental leave was enacted in Iceland
To ensure that children enjoy the care of both parents and secondly, for both women and men to be able to organise family life and employment (Act on Maternity/Paternity and Parental Leave no. 95/2000)
The parents were asked how they organized the care of their children from birth to the age of three in order to be able to estimate the effect of the parental leave on care including the period when the paid parental leave was over

Summary

Introduction

The parents were asked how they organized the care of their children from birth to the age of three in order to be able to estimate the effect of the parental leave on care including the period when the paid parental leave was over. The data shows that during the period in question the division of care between the mother and father has changed significantly as a higher proportion of children born after the law had been enacted, enjoy care from both parents. The legislation and development of care policies are discussed, followed by a discussion of theories on the dual earner/dual-carer model and the influences the take-up of paid parental leave has on the division of care among parents. The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for relevant and important advice

Fathers’ care

Method

Results – How do fathers and mothers care for their firstborn?

Findings

Conclusion