To mark the publication of the Fatherhood Institute's new report "Lockdown Dads - the Untold Story", we sat down with Dr Jeremy Davies, Head of Communications, to discuss fatherhood, the opportunities presented by the pandemic and what exactly is "the untold story"
After we covered dodgy backs, out for beers and Moroccan pandemic experiences, we learnt about Jeremy's path. Journalist, becoming a father in 1999, a PhD and joining Father's Direct, the organisation that later became the Fatherhood Institute with the benefits of living the values of flexible working and active and involved fatherhood.
What is the Untold Story?
- Dads back in the home on a scale unseen since the industrial revolution.
- Dads have done more unpaid childcare and domestic labour than ever before.
- In many families the care gap has narrowed.
- Dads attitudes towards caring responsibilities have changed.
- Dads have seen the mental health benefits of their presence.
- The world has got much more comfortable with flexible and remote work.
- Despite the challenges Dads want more flexible and remote working
The media focus
- The pandemic story in the mass media has been focused on doom and gloom around motherhood, mums facing the brunt of the home-school challenge, being made redundant and furloughed in greater numbers than dads.
- Gender inequalities have always been there, but lockdowns shone a light on it.
- Stories about the impact on dads being tagged on at the end or not at all.
The Future?
- #Timewithdad call to arms.
- Building on the best bits of dad's engagement at home.
- Flex has been around for ages, but traditionally seen as being for women with caring responsibilities.
- Dads are new voices for change.
- Dads have the power to change things as James' tweet illustrates
https://twitter.com/PoliticalYeti/status/1395382322355134470?s=20
Plus we talked about the challenges
- How can we keep more men flexible?
- Dads with relatively long commutes means even more benefits from working from home.
- How schools communicate with dads.
- Dads being more involved can create a challenge for mum's identity and how things are 'done'.
In our regular tips section...
- Dads role modelling equality at home for their daughters.
- Switch phone off when we are with kids.
- Do the boring stuff as well as the exciting. Sometimes those are the magic moments.
Lockdown Dads: The Untold Story
http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lockdown-Fathers-Executive-Summary.pdf
http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2021/contemporary-fathers-in-the-uk/
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