Fathers as superheroes, tax breaks for family-friendly companies, “penalties” for those who skip their leave – the global push to get dads involved in childcare has taken many forms. From Japan’s “cool dad” campaigns to Iceland’s gender-balanced quotas, governments are experimenting with how to make paternity and parental leave both attractive and effective. But why are these initiatives still so necessary, and what turns parental leave policies into a step towards equality?
Martina Senoner (2026) studied this question.