Parenthood in Norway: Between Politics and Science

Abstract

Gender equality politics is essential to the development of democracy. In the twentieth century, women's rights made considerable advances. Women have increasingly participated in public life, a sphere previously reserved for men. However, childcare is an area in which gender equality lags behind. Although advanced Western liberal governments have aspired politically and legislatively for gender equality over recent decades—by getting more women back into working life earlier and their partners more involved in family life—social changes have been relatively slow. In Norway, when parents are given a free choice, mothers generally take a long leave of absence, while fathers do not. Based on a report on this dilemma concerning the public debate on paternity leave in Norway, the author discusses whether this inertia stems from an underlying belief in natural differences and certain roles for men and women with regard to childcare. The author explores the arguments of experts and the research they base their arguments on and consider how conceptions of nature and culture influence the debate about parenthood, in this case fatherhood in particular. Parenthood is situated somewhere between politics and science and nature and culture, which stresses the need for a balance between realities and ideals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)