Rankin-Wahlers 1 Jaden Rankin-Wahlers CAS 137U Paradigm Shift Essay October 28, 2013 Paternity Leave A babys shrilling

cry rings out across the house; time for another diaper change. It is midday on Wednesday and the newborn needs to be taken care of. Her father walks in to conquer the battle ahead. Only fifty years ago, the idea of the father stepping up to the plate in this scenario was unlikely. People would have expected dad to be at work and mom to be the one home, taking care of the newborn (Evolving Gender Roles). However, as times change so do the way things get done and our opinions about them. Throughout the United States, fathers have been increasingly taking time off work, paternity leave, to help take care of their newborn children. Although some people still disapprove of paternity leave, many people are beginning to view the concept in a different light. As liberalizing movements begin to advance the impact of womens roles, media outlets, world occurrences, gay marriages, and technology companies, there has been an increase in the acceptance of paternity leave. Originally, paternity leave was not considered to be an option, and after it was technically provided by law, people did not expect fathers to actually take leave. About thirty one years ago paternity leave was nonexistent in law. When women began entering the job market legislation was drafted to give women the right to take a leave, so they could provide for their newborns. In 1993 President Clinton signed the Family Medical Leave Act which allowed employees to take time off to help with the birth or adoption of a new child (Hyde). This law was worded to provide leave to a parent with no specification of gender, so by default men were also given this

Rankin-Wahlers 2 right. Even though men were legally allowed the right to leave, people thought men should not take paternity leave. In the case of Knussman v. Maryland, Mr. Knussman sued because his government job would not allow him to take a leave, and although he won his case the cost and length of the case was detrimental to him (Cockey). This case highlights that legislation might have been put in place giving the right to paternity leave, but employers and others did not seriously expect men to take it. Paternity leave was often cast in a negative light because taking care of babies was considered the mothers responsibility. The fathers role was to be the breadwinner for his family. His success, to society, was dependent on what he could provide monetarily for his family. This meant it was the mothers role was to stay home and raise the kids. Women were considered to posses the right characteristics to raise children while the fathers supplied the discipline (Evolving Gender Roles). The stigmas that were overcome to lead to a greater acceptance of paternity leave include overcoming traditional male roles in society and what businesses require from employees. The shift from parental leave from just the mothers job to including the role of the father came as womens responsibilities grew. Women have gained an economic foothold in the job market, despite disparity still existing in salaries between genders (Evolving Gender Roles). With that being the case, in some families the mother still makes more than the father. With the mother bringing in a larger portion of the income it makes sense for the man to take leave with the new baby instead of the mother staying home and the family missing out on more money. In other families the woman is the only one to hold a job for wide possibility of reasons, ranging from the fathers unemployment, disability, or not wanting to get a job. Although these fathers in the second example are not necessarily taking paternity leave, they are taking care of the children while their wives work helping to contribute to the idea men can take care of babies and

Rankin-Wahlers 3 are not just disciplinary figures. Since the economic downturn more people have accepted men staying home to take care of the baby because others understand people have to do what it takes for their family to get by (Lois M. Collins). In these scenarios the need for the father to stay home and take care of the child for the betterment of the family is understood by others, but this alone is not enough to erase the belief that by staying home men are weak for not being able to provide for their families monetarily. The media has been contributing to a new perspective of paternity leave being a good parenting move by showing different examples of fathers on paternity leave. The most recent example of a celebrity in the media is Prince William who took his full two weeks of paternity leave off from the air force to spend time with his family. This public display of a well-known father taking the time to help out with the baby was met by positive critics as good parenting from the media. Taking into consideration Prince William is rich and English, his taking of paternity leave was still widely and positively viewed by the American public and gives future dads an example to follow (Rebecca Adams). Other publicized instances include dads being reintroduced into diaper commercials as knowledgeable (previously in commercials from the 1960s-1970s fathers were portrayed as clueless when changing babies as seen in the commercial titled: Even Dad Can Change Her). By showing the father taking care of the baby, a message is sent that fathers not only can take care of babies but they do (For Every Little Miracle). Interestingly when the reverse of this is shown, a dad that is shown as ignorant in rising children, the commercial is met with outrage and has to be removed as was in the case of the Huggies Dad Test Commercials (ABC News). The media is an example to people that taking paternity leave is a good parenting move, but the reactions towards negatively depicted dads show the growing change in society.

Rankin-Wahlers 4 Another influence of the growing acceptance of paternity leave comes from outside the United States. Often on issues such as womens voting, black voting, abolishment of slavery, and so on, the United States lags behind some other countries from around the world, such as the United Kingdom (British History Timeline). This has led other countries to be examples of progress for supporters to cite. Many countries have laws in place to provide paid paternity leave to fathers to let them help raise their children. In some countries campaigns have even been launched to support paternity leave, in 2011 a campaign was launched in Austria to bring paternity leave awareness into the publics mind (Euroline). Although the campaigns are not airing in the United States, the effects can be seen when other countries openly embrace paternity leave. In addition, this helps to support if other countries are encouraging paternity leave then there is merit behind it. Besides from outside movements influencing paternity leave, there are also movements from within the United States reshaping peoples views. Paternity leave is increasingly becoming an issue of equal rights with the rise in the popularity of same sex marriages. With the increased approval of same-sex marriages and civil unions, there has been a rise of acceptance that sometimes only fathers can take off for paternity leave (maternity and paternity leave applies to both the arrival of a baby due to birth or adoption). In this time of changing views it is becoming less and less tolerable in society to appear homophobic as it is being linked with bullying (Stop Homophobic Bullying in Schools). By making negative comments regarding a father taking time off to raise a baby, people may come across as homophobic. This has worked to create an environment where only positive things are allowed to be said, and once everyone continues to hear others supporting the issue they begin to reevaluate why they are the only ones to stand against it. In this case by quieting the dissenters against paternity leave, it creates more talk that is positive and convinces

Rankin-Wahlers 5 others to bandwagon onto the idea. Same-sex marriages affecting the view on paternity leave, is a more recent phenomenon, but it is not the only recent event. Technology based companies are approaching the setup of their work environments from unique angles, and with their domination in markets their revamped methods are being taken seriously, including benefits to employees such as paternity leave. As Robin D. Rusch states, Tech companies know theyve got to stay cutting edge, or get left behindtraditional brick-and mortar businesses would do well to follow in their footsteps By leading with example, technology companies are influencing how other companies view their own policies. With the greater acceptance of paternity leave among top tech companies, who are often viewed as knowing the next big thing, this can shift the view of how other companies see their own paternity leave policies. Google has recently begun letting fathers take off for seven weeks, while Yahoo instituted eight weeks of paternity leave, and Facebook is giving four months to their new dads (Alyson Shontell). By having companies embrace paternity leave this is sending a clear message of their approval of it. The reason paternity leave was cast under a negative light in the beginning is because it was considered the mans job to make the money. Now the work place is changing with a growing acceptance of paternity leave, bosses are sending the message that it is acceptable to take time off for the family. Peoples impressions of a subject are constantly changing and reforming. In this case the idea of paternity leave was viewed negatively because it was considered the fathers job to only monetarily provide for his family. However, with numerous other positions changing from womens roles, media, world events, to gay marriages, and even models of how companies are run, paternity leave has gained greater acceptance in the United States. Although people usually have a greater acceptance towards maternity leave, paternity leave is starting to be viewed more

Rankin-Wahlers 6 equally. Thirty years ago fathers were given the right to paternity leave, but when Mr.Knussman tried to take up the offer he was originally denied. Now companies are implementing policies to specifically give paternity leave. With such a rapid change in how people view paternity leave, it may surprise us how quickly the acceptance of paternity leave continues to grow. Possibly, one day soon, when a babys shrilling cry rings out, no one will bat an eye when the father shushes her back to sleep while her mother is at work. Word Count: 1,801

Rankin-Wahlers 7

Works Cited ABC News. "Do Huggies Commercials Insult Dads?" YouTube. YouTube, 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeJdi-ePB9E>. Adams, Rebecca. "Prince William's Paternity Leave Will Last 2 Weeks." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 July 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/19/prince-william-paternityleave_n_3622605.html>. "British History Timeline." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/timelines/british/index_embed.shtml>. Cockey, Robin R. "The Family Medical Leave Act: What You See and What You Get." N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Cockey.doc. 15 Apr. 2004. Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://www.wcl.american.edu/journal/genderlaw/12/cockey.pdf>. Collins, Lois M. "More Dads Staying Home with the Kids While Mom Works." DeseretNews.com. N.p., 28 May 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865580745/More-dads-staying-home-with-thekids-while-mom-works.html?pg=all>. Euroline. "Campaign Begins for Fathers to Take Paternity Leave." Campaign Begins for Fathers to Take Paternity Leave. N.p., 5 May 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2011/01/articles/AT1101011I.htm>. "Evolving Gender Roles Explored at Anne Roe Lecture." Harvard Graduate School of Education. N.p., 28 Nov. 2008. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.gse.harvard.edu/newsimpact/2008/11/evolving-gender-roles-explored-at-anne-roe-lecture/>. Hyde, Janet Shibley, Roseanne Clark, Marilyn J. Essex, Majorie H. Klein, and Janis E. Byrd. Parental Leave: Policy and Reserch. Vol. 52. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Journal of Social Issues. Wiley Online Library. 3 Nov. 1996. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1996.tb01581.x/pdf>. P&G. "For Every Little Miracle (Pampers Commercial)." YouTube. YouTube, 06 Apr. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZfPsLi8Pfk>.

Rankin-Wahlers 8

P&G. "P&G - Pampers Disposable Diapers - Even Dad Can Change Her - Vintage Commercial 1960s - 1970s." YouTube. YouTube, 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM8Bv9gofSs>. Rusch, Robin D. "What Traditional Companies Can Learn from Technology Companies." Interbrand. N.p., 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/2012/sector-overviews/whattraditional-companies-can-learn-from-tech.aspx>. Shontell, Alyson. "Biological Moms Get Preferential Treatment Over Parents Who Adopt At Companies Like Yahoo And Google." Business Insider. N.p., 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.businessinsider.com/maternity-paternity-leave-policies-atgoogle-facebook-yahoo-twitter-microsoft-2013-8>. "Stop Homophobic Bullying in Schools." GlobalGiving.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. <http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/creating-bias-free-classrooms/>.