Fathers take significantly less parental leave than mothers. Critics warn that if parental allowance is cut, it will be even less. Do men only take responsibility if the pay is right? An interview with a masculinity researcher.
When the parental benefit was introduced, it was also intended as a tool for equality between men and women. In fact, fathers in Germany have been taking more parental leave since then – but rarely for more than two months. Most fathers still do not take parental leave at all. In the current debate about parental benefit cuts for higher earners, it is often said that men in particular would then take on less care work. What’s wrong with the fathers? Stephan Höyng conducts research at the Catholic University for Social Sciences in Berlin on the topics of masculinity and the compatibility of work and private life.