Daddy quotas
In Norway, part of the parental leave period is reserved for the fathers. If the father does not take his "paternity leave" off work, the family loses that leave period. The quota, which originally was comprised of four weeks, was introduced in Norway in 1993, as the first country in the world. Sweden followed in 1995. The quota has been increased and decreased several times, and is currently at 10 weeks each for both mothers and fathers. In connection with the birth itself, it is normal for the father to get two weeks of paid leave in addition to the paternity leave.
A sinner's confession. And of course, I can attempt to hide behind the fact that it's original sin, that I only neglected to do what my father neglected before me – with me – his father before him – with him – and his father before that (...) It doesn't help. Four sinners in a row, no saint makes. And we were the losers! (...) This is not about economical growth, but about human and social growth. About men's growth.
On raising sons
A study published in 2000 revealed that many women felt they had failed in raising their sons. Mothers from both feminist and more traditional backgrounds participated in the study. Both groups wished to raise their son in a framework of feminist ideas (with focus on cooperation, caring and being allowed to show emotion – rather than competing about being tough), but both groups felt unsuccessful.
The only real difference between the groups was what they identified as the reason for their failure. The more traditional mothers blamed genes, saying "boys will be boys". The feminist mothers blamed the culture and society, including themselves, that their son had grown up in, their own failure to spend time with their sons, absent fathers, and influence from trainers, the fathers of friends, TV, films and games. (Birgit Brock-Utne, 2000)
That the man is not allowed to put his football scarf up over the TV, while the woman can put up dried flowers to her heart's content, cannot possibly be seen as anything but the suppression of men.
- 1/1
"The Man Cave"
