OSC Scientific Seminar 2021-2022

Friday 4th February 2022, 11:30 am
Online conference via Zoom

What do fathers use their leave for?
Exploring the diversity of uses and non-uses of paternity leave in France

Alix Sponton

PhD Student, Sciences Po - OSC & INED

Between 2002 and 2021, French fathers could take up to 14 days of paid leave until the baby turns four month old. From the institutional perspective, the main aim of this public policy was to guarantee a more balanced division of childcare between parents. But from fathers’ point of view, what is the purpose of paternity leave? And how to understand that some eligible fathers make no use of it?

Based on longitudinal interviews with fathers before and after the birth, I adopt an approach of reception to explore the diverse uses and non-uses fathers can make of French paternity leave. The presentation gives particular attention to when and why fathers decided to use their leave (just after the birth to help their partner recovering, during a holiday period so they can visit family, etc.) Results highlight how paternity leave is articulated with alternative options available to fathers (for instance, informally “extended” by regular leave or “replaced” by a business interruption in the case of self-employed workers).

This presentation encourages to consider not only the leave take-up but also the myriad of usages that can be made of the same public policy. Better understanding what the leave can do to fathers thus necessitate to first look at what fathers do to the leave.

Registration is mandatory (the link for the videoconference will be sent one day before)

To find out more: Profile Page (OSC)