Excerpts from the report:
How good are we at creating an environment in which hands-on fathering can flourish? This report introduces the Fairness in Families Index -- the first attempt (not just in the UK, but anywhere in the world) to find out.
The index pulls together a broad range of indicators giving an insight into how fathers and mothers are sharing their
parenting in 21 upper income countries -- and the contexts in which they make their choices.
....
The Fairness in Families Index captures countries' attempts to establish frameworks which suit modern day
family aspirations. Some have set out early and with a specific agenda. Sweden, top of the table, is committed to shared parenting, not just because of what parents want but also because it has a belief that shared parenting is good for children and relationships, coupled with a strong
vision of gender equality. Other countries seem to be more in the mould of responding to what people appear to want, while some continue -- intentionally or not -- to deliver
policies suited to traditional models of family life.
List of indicators used:
- Gender equality in parental leave
- Gender pay gap
- Men's percentage share of the part-time workforce
- Proportion of women sitting in parliaments
- Women in management positions
- Percentage of children living in lone parent households
- Percentage of GDP spent on childcare and education for the under-fives
- Men's and women's time spent on childcare
- Men's and women's time spent on unpaid work
- Maximum full-time equivalent paid leave for fathers
[Canada ranked 15 of 21 wealthy countries in the study.]