Restructuring of paid work a precursor to men's involvement in family life, says study
A new study on the changing role of men in the family argues that the involvement of men in household and family tasks is much more revolutionary than women's involvement in employed work. The study was funded by the European Commission under its Gender Equality programme, together with the Belgian Institute for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men and COFACE, the Confederation of Family Organisations in the EU. Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) from seven EU Member States participated: Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal. 'Very few women and men - whether among the lay public, policy-makers, civil servants, trade unionists, employers or in civil society - have yet come to a full awareness that men's engagement with the family throws the gender-based hierarchy established in the 19th century in democratic states and modern industrial societies more fundamentally into question than women's growing labour force participation,' states the study's final report. While a change in the family role of men can be perceived, change is being held back by attitudes that are difficult to change due to: - unequal pay and employment conditions; - labour market segregation stemming from a lack of gender balance in school courses; - interest-based sectionism; - workplace atmospheres and career risks; - work organisation and parental and family leave policies; - a lack of family support services; - the perpetuation of gender stereotypes. The gender equality objective set out in the Commission's roadmap for 2006 to 2010 will only be achieved through recognition of the value of both types of work (paid and in the family), as well as a radical restructuring of paid work, according to the report. The report also claims that a change will not occur while spending time with the family is equated to a loss of human capital and is regarded as damaging to both careers and employability. The report recommends policy action in six broad domains in order to dismantle gender inequalities: gender equality in employment; family support; flexible working hours and parental leave; education and training; the availability of information; and the social organisation of time. The recommendations are aimed at local, regional, national and European authorities, say the report's authors, as each level has an important role to play.