“I am in charge of the whole family operation”: gendered norms and negotiations in digital parenting in Denmark

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of gender norms and digital parenting in Denmark, renowned for its advanced digital society and gender equality. Drawing on 47 interviews with parents, it highlights three key social expectations shaping digital parenting: child-centeredness, appreciation of emotional labor, and caregiving’s enduring association with women. The findings reveal that digital media increases parenting’s logistical demands, placing a greater burden on mothers while fathers focus on tasks seen as more valuable. Building on these findings, the paper discusses how the gendered dynamics of intensive parenting and engaged fatherhood threaten Denmark’s gender equity, calling for societal change.