Tag: gender equality

Tinkering at the margins: why Labour’s parental leave reforms don’t currently deliver for families or the economy

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Mother working on a laptop at home while caring for a baby, illustrating the challenges of balancing paid work and childcare.

This blog post is based on an article published in Social Policy and Society by Anna Tarrant, Linzi Ladlow, Alison Koslowski, Harriet Churchill, Naomi Finch, and Patricia Hamilton. When Labour returned to government in 2024, parental leave reform sat near the top of its promises to working families. The manifesto and Labour’s Plan to Make… Continue reading Tinkering at the margins: why Labour’s parental leave reforms don’t currently deliver for families or the economy

Do Workplace Structures Limit Fathers’ Use of Parental Leave?

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Group of colleagues in a modern office meeting around a table with a laptop, engaged in discussion.

This blog post is based on an article published in the Journal of Social Policy by Simon N. Chapman, Sanni Kotimäki, Satu Helske, and Anna Erika Hägglund. Well-compensated, flexible, and non-transferable parental leave for fathers is increasingly viewed as an important policy tool for furthering equality within families. Despite this drive towards equality in caregiving… Continue reading Do Workplace Structures Limit Fathers’ Use of Parental Leave?

LGBT+ Human Rights and Inclusion in Taiwan: Progress, Gaps, and the Road Ahead

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Night skyline of Taipei featuring Taipei 101 illuminated above the city.

This blog post is based on an article published in Social Policy and Society by Yu-Te Huang, Chenxi Yang, Leo Zephyrus Chow, Suchon Tepjan, Holning Lau, Duy A. Dinh, and Peter A. Newman. Taiwan has long been hailed as a frontrunner in LGBT+ rights in Asia. In 2019, Taiwan drew global attention by becoming the… Continue reading LGBT+ Human Rights and Inclusion in Taiwan: Progress, Gaps, and the Road Ahead

The Use of Paternity Leave by Migrants in Spain

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Black-and-white photograph of a father holding a small child’s hand while walking along a rocky beach, symbolising caregiving, family life, and parental involvement.

This blog post is based on an article published in Social Policy and Society by Pedro Romero-Balsas, Gerardo Meil, and Jesús Rogero-García. The blog post is written by Matej Kojic. The article by Romero-Balsas, Meil and Rogero-García examines how migrant fathers, especially those from American and European backgrounds, engage with Spain’s evolving paternity leave policies.… Continue reading The Use of Paternity Leave by Migrants in Spain

Maternity Leave as ‘Right’ or ‘Risk’? How Employers Justify Support or Resistance

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Illustration of a family protected by a drawn umbrella, symbolising maternity leave and workplace support.

This blog post is based on an article published in Social Policy and Society by Helen Kowalewska. Maternity leave is a cornerstone of the welfare state and a long-established right in the UK and nearly all high-income countries. Yet despite formal entitlements, many women still report being sidelined or penalised for taking maternity leave. Why… Continue reading Maternity Leave as ‘Right’ or ‘Risk’? How Employers Justify Support or Resistance