Abstract
The aim of reserving months for fathers in the Swedish parental leave systemwas to increase fathers’ use of leave as well as encourage gender equality inthe home and labor market. Using data from the Swedish Social InsuranceAgency, this study investigates the effects of the reform – reserving one monthof leave for fathers in 1995 and a second month in 2002 – on gender equalityin the home.
The study uses the take up of the parental benefit for thecare for sick children (CFSC) as a proxy for gender equality and followsparents’ use of CFSC for twelve years for the first reform and ten years forthe second reform. Results indicate the first reform led to more equal leavesharing, mainly because use of the benefit decreased among mothers with loweducation, and at least in part fulfilled the aim of increasing gender equality inthe home.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/13545701.2018.1474240?needAccess=true&role=button