Dads Matter – The Importance of Fathers’ Flexible Working

Join us for a thought-provoking talk exploring how fathers’ flexible working arrangements can influence family dynamics and fertility decisions.

This event is held in honour of International Men’s Day, which celebrates the positive value men bring to the world, their families, and communities. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Men and Boys”, and we’re proud to spotlight the role of fathers in shaping family life through flexible working and egalitarian attitudes.

Shiyu Yuan will present insights from her paper:

“Does Fathers’ Working from Home Matter for Mothers’ Fertility Intentions? The Role of Gender Role Attitudes and Couple Employment Structure.”

Using dyadic data from Wave 10 of Understanding Society, this research reveals a positive link between fathers working from home and mothers’ fertility intentions —especially in dual full-time households where fathers hold egalitarian gender role attitudes. These findings challenge the notion that workplace flexibility and fertility are solely women’s issues, highlighting the vital role of fathers’ work arrangements and attitudes.