02/16/2020
I recently came across, and was heartened by, an article about Finland and the progressive changes they've legislated around parental leave. This is all on the heels of electing the youngest sitting head of state, Sanna Marin (34), which I find additionally encouraging.
In 2021, Finland will increase maternity leave from 4 months total to 7 months each for the Mother and Father, respectively. Approximately 3 of the 7 months can be transferred to the other parent and single parents are allotted 328 days.
I interpret this structure as encouraging and incentivizing men to take time at home with their children. It appears that if the Father doesn't take a leave, the family will miss out on 4 months of paid benefit.
I think this is important in myriad ways. As a Father that took 10-months off with my first son, I can speak to the bonding that occurred
and the personal growth that I benefited from. I read that a paternity leave spanning at least a month can lead to greater outcomes for children. We joke at my house that we're disrupting gender norms. My wife, being a doctor, is the primary breadwinner and always will be. Growing up surrounded by strong women, this doesn't bother me in the least. I know that my two boys will grow up with a greater sense of gender equality and that is very important to me. I want my sons to respect women as much as I do.
Additionally, subverting gender roles, even temporarily, can potentially curtail some of the misogyny that unfortunately still exists in the world. Solely care for an infant for a month and you will have a greater appreciation for the opposite s*x and the responsibility that often falls on their shoulders with little help.
Anyway, way to go Finland. Feeling a bit more optimistic after reading that.