Article published in the newspaper “O Globo” last Sunday (4/11) confirms that unequal division of domestic tasks is still a major challenge in achieving gender equality in the country. Although women represent 42% of the workforce in the labor market, when it comes to men's participation in care tasks, the opposite is not true: women spend between 2 and 10 times more time on unpaid care tasks than men. .
Promundo has dedicated itself to producing knowledge and mobilizing society and governments about the importance of men's involvement in care tasks and fatherhood. In 2012, the research “Men who Care: A multi-country qualitative study on men in non-traditional caring roles” and an international Fatherhood campaign, “Men-Care” were launched . In Brazil, the campaign was adapted and is called “You are my Father!” .
The “Men Who Care” study points out that rigid gender norms make it difficult for men to accept identifying themselves with tasks that have traditionally been delegated to women. In general, men who perform these tasks full-time do so due to an imposition or circumstance of life, not by choice.
Those who had positive experiences during childhood involving other men in caregiving tend to be more equitable in the future and their marital relationships are healthier.
Men who perform care activities professionally, such as nurses, dancers or midwives, tend to give a masculine character to the activity to suit their masculine identity. A very revealing finding from the research is that the contact of men in care tasks and domestic tasks, Just like in fatherhood, it seems to be a catalyst for men to begin a process of reflection on rigid masculinity norms and question the traditional roles delegated to men and women in society, acquiring a much more equitable stance. Some of the main benefits and results of men's involvement in caregiving and paternity tasks are: advances in women's economic emancipation; improving women's health and maternal health; advances in child development indicators; reducing violence against women and children and improving the physical and mental health of men.
Access the “Men Who Care” survey here!
Read the full article from Jornal O Globo here!
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