First of all, as father, I was the one in the family who was most 'emotionally present' for my two daughters, both adults now. Their fondest (if not theirs, certainly mine) memories of their childhood was of us playing together. Who was babysitting whom?
Secondly, I like the gist of this conversation ... From now on, 'pay gap' ought to spark 'paternity leave gap?!' conversations, I think that could be key to 'leveling the playing field' for both issues!
Exactly my point on the pay gap issue it’s like why should we have to put the toilet seat down? Who puts it up for us haha. What I’m saying is if gender pay gap is an issue that needs putting right then so is everything that falls in the same category. As a union rep for my employees, I was often involved in pay disputes and negotiations and every matter of pay from salaries to sick pay etc was on the table. I will not need paternity leave anymore in my life but I would like to think that those who do need it be giving a fairer option for the children’s sake.
Thanks for reading and keep steeming
Oh yes!! That 'toilet seat' matter, if we're allowed to turn an emotional manipulation into a rational discussion, leads to your conclusion. Talking about gaps, in the states here I'm sure we have a great deal of health insurance actuarial data indicating who in the collective, as a whole, are the benefactors and who are the beneficiaries ...
To which a Post Modernist 'identity politician' may resort to emotional manipulation with a popular quip among them these days, 'Check your privilege!'
To which I would reply, without getting too far into male disposability and how shall we 'deconstruct the patriarchy' such that that unfortunate circumstance of the human condition could be more equitably distributed, I would simply retort, "I have checked my privileges, just like an Irishman under Queen Victoria checked his potatoes. Too few to be of any substance!"