But ultimately, part-time work is hardly a panacea to making fathers change their work-life balances and do more childcare — especially if it means the same number of working hours (including childcare) for less pay. For couples with children already struggling in harsh economic circumstances, such contracts are unlikely to be appealing.
“It depends on the economic circumstances of each family as to whether there would be take up for this kind of change,” Fisher said. “But I think part-time work is the ultimate answer for mothers and fathers.”
“If we’re serious about changing work-life balance and making childcare something that men do more than ever before, then its image needs to be changed. The main problem is that men fear that if you do childcare rather than paid work, you lose a sense of who you are. I think that it’s a phantom fear. It’s a fear of the unknown. Men have to get over it,” he said.
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