Should Men Get Paternity Leave?

In 1984, a law was stricken down in California which required employers to provide maternity leave for females only. What was it stricken down for? Gender discrimination. This forced the debate nationally, where all genders would be protected by family and medical issues. After a ten year battle and much lobbying, President Clinton signed the FMLA act. Despite federal and state enactments, few men take paternity leave. Why have men not used the time given them?

Upon researching why so many men do not take advantage of paternity leave, it became clear that 50% do not cover men under such circumstances, and those in which other states do provide the option, many men cannot afford to take unpaid time due to the financial costs. States like CA and NJ are the only two which offer public family leave insurance which is financed through payroll tax contributions, and a recent study in 2011 found the programs were overwelmingly accepted and had a positive effect in the workplace with morale and production.

Perhaps if men were paid during this time, it would be more attractive, but that is not the case. Women for obvious reasons need the time off for health reasons and many women wish their husbands were there to provide them with the extra support needed during this time. Although men are likely to take 5-7 days off, I do not see any change in the future. Employers still need workers and cannot assume the pay and time off needed, some would argue and rightly so. It is also not culturally recognizable, at least not yet. While the progressive state CA was the first to fight for gender-neutrality which feminists fought for, the implementation of this law has not yet shown the majority of male behavior change in the workplace. While some do take advantage, the overall number is about 11%.

While the idea itself of allowing fathers time off for a birth, to help their wives, etc., unless it is granted as paid time off, it is not as assesible and won’t be. The cost alone of having a child is quite high, and to ask a spouse to stay home with no pay doesn’t make sense. The mortgage, food, and all other bills still need to be paid. I don’t see this trend changing any time soon.