Parental duties should be shared equally according to a new UK-based survey from Opinion Matters.
The survey, which was carried out on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, has found that 53% of the general public believe that childcare should be an equally shared responsibility. A further 22% of those surveyed believe that new parents should be given the right to decide how their time with their child is split based on their responsibilities.
Less than a quarter of those questioned felt that the responsibility of caring for a child lay solely with the mother of the child.
The survey, which collected data from more than 2,000 people, comes three months before the implementation of shared parental leave in the UK. Under new proposals parents will be given 50 weeks of leave, 37 weeks of which are paid, in the first year of a newborns' life.
Shared parental leave will allow parents to book time off to care for the baby, allowing one of the parents to return to work. The new system, which comes into place on April 5th, looks to aid new parents as they adapt to the change, as well as aid employers by planning and creating a flexible approach to parental leave.
Two thirds of all parents surveyed stated that they would have taken shared parental leave had it been available to them previously, with 63% of males stating that they would have benefitted from more time caring for their child.
80% of those considering having a child in the future said they would consider taking shared parental leave when they became parents.
Male Benefit
According to the new data, 60% of males believed that the new shared parental leave would allow them to have a closer bond with their child. 44% of males stated that they felt the new shared system was fairer than the old system, as it granted them more time to care for their child and allow their partner to go back to to work if they wished.
Many males surveyed suggested that the new changes would result in an improved family relationship. Around a third of males believed that their relationship with their partner would improve as a result of shared leave, with 57% of males stating that being more involved in their childs life would benefit their entire family.
"Offering More Flexibility"
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "This Edwardian notion that women should stay at home while men go out and support the family has simply no place in this day and age.
"We know that mums and dads want more flexibility and choice when it comes to juggling their home and work lives.
"That's why we've introduced Shared Parental Leave so that parents can make their own decisions about how to raise their family, whether it's giving women the choice to go back to work earlier or men the opportunity to spend more time with their children."
Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson said: "This survey shows people are rejecting dated stereotypes about the roles of men and women.
"Shared Parental Leave will let couples choose how to share their childcare responsibilities in whatever way works best for them, and enable both parents to spend time developing that vital bond with their baby in the early stages."
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