4
Damien Peelo
CEO, Treoir
Seán Cooke
CEO, Men’s Development Network
Foreword
Fathers want to care for their children. This is one
of the key findings from the Irish data gathered
as part of the global research, The State of the
World’s Fathers. This comes as no surprise to
those of us who work with fathers. Another key
finding is that most mothers also want fathers
to take up a greater caring role in their children’s
lives. However, women are still responsible for
the vast majority of care of their children even
though over 80% of the men in this research felt
they shared caring responsibilities equally with
their partners. Equality in care remains one of the
missing pieces for women’s equality and therefore
a more equal society. In this sphere, equality for
women will only be achieved if care is shared
equally among men and women.
The perceptions of how much men care for
children compared to how their partners perceive
their caring role makes for interesting reading.
Fathers may think they do more than they do or
share care equally with the other parent however,
the caring roles are still gendered, and housework
is mainly the domain of women. Notwithstanding
this, it is clear from this research that men and
women want to share the care of their children and
believe doing so is one of the most important jobs
they can do in their lives. This must include the
sharing of domestic duties too.
The research is a timely reminder that things
are changing in relation to how we care for our
children. Parents from an older generation have
seen attitudes to care change positively in their
lifetime. Patriarchal, sexist attitudes to gendered
roles in the home are reducing as the majority
of participants in this research demonstrated.
However, while we now have more men as primary
carers, women still take on the vast majority
of care. This research would indicate that men
want to see this change as much as women and
that antiquated gendered notions of care and
household duties are no longer acceptable to both
men and women.
This year the Irish government have made a
commitment to having a referendum on care and
will propose removing sexist language from Article
41.2 of the Irish constitution. This article currently
states: In particular, the State recognises that by
her life within the home, woman gives to the State
a support without which the common good cannot
be achieved. The State shall, therefore, endeavour
to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by
economic necessity to engage in labour to the
neglect of their duties in the home.
There have been many calls since the Constitution
was enacted to abolish this provision. The National
Women’s Council of Ireland have highlighted
that ‘If passed, removing this provision will bring
significant change. It would recognise the reality
of women’s lives and ambitions in modern Irish
society and the importance of care for all of
society’. This research shows that men desire that
change too and that it needs to be delivered in
partnership with women.
The Men’s Development Network and Treoir
collaborated on the Irish aspect of this global
research. We are delighted to work together
on what is a timely contribution to forthcoming
discussions on a constitutional referendum on
Article 41.2. For both organisations this work
confirms what we encounter on a daily basis, that
many fathers want to be active in caring for their
children, that they want to take time out from their
careers or work part time and be considered as “a
go to” person if their child needs a parent during
the working day. While legislation to enable this
has improved such as paternity leave, parental
leave and blended working more policy and
legislative initiatives are needed alongside public
discourse and the continuing shift in attitudes.
We welcome this research and are delighted that
we have Irish specific data that can be compared
to the global study, that is showing that there
is a strong desire to break down the patriarchal
systems that have created inequalities for women,
and by default an unequal and unhealthy society.
We invite you to read this research and join the
growing impetus to create a more equal and just
society where fathers and mothers are co-authors
of a more enlightened approach to the delivery of
care to our children.
State of the World’s Fathers Ireland
