‘It Would Be Silly to Stop Now and Go Part-Time’: Fathers and Flexible Working Arrangements in Australia

Abstract

Expectations of fathering have changed over the past few decades, and it appears fathers are increasingly participating in care activities. Despite this, the capacity for Australian men to participate in child rearing is impeded by limitations around flexible working arrangements. The link between fathering, masculinity, paid work, and the persistent expectation that fathers will be the financial providers within the family unit is examined in this chapter. The influence of this gendered expectation on Australian policy development is briefly discussed, and some recommendations provided for policy makers, organizations, and fathers.