Canadian Fathers’ Involvement and Perceived Equity in Childcare

• In Event: 3132 - Family and Work

Abstract

In Canadian families, fathers are spending more time in childcare activities now than 30 years ago. Yet, compared to the United States, there is a dearth of quantitative research on Canadian fathers’ participation and perceptions of equity in childcare and other domestic work. Our study helps fill this gap. We use a sample of dual-earner married or cohabiting parents (N=414) taken from individual-level panel data from the Canadian Work, Stress, and Health study at two time points (2011 and 2013). Drawing on theoretical assumptions about time availability, work-family conflict, and relationship quality, we estimate predictors of fathers’ childcare involvement and perceptions of fairness in childcare compared to mothers. Our results highlight several key findings. First, we document gender differences in childcare performance; and second, we demonstrate how job pressures and martial conflict are fundamental to shaping fathers’ involvement. Contrary to expectations, we do not find gender differences in predictors of perceived fairness in childcare. We discuss the broader implications of our findings within the contemporary sociocultural context for parents and families.

Authors

• Casey Scheibling, McMaster University

• Marisa Christine Young, McMaster University

• Melissa A. Milkie, University of Toronto

• Scott Schieman, University of Toronto