We have always managed, why dont we now reflections based upon experiences from working with fathers

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We have always managed, why dont we
now?reflections based upon experiences from
working with fathers and gender equality in
Norway

• Ulf Rikter-Svendsen, director
• Reform resource centre for men, Norway
• Tallinn 10.2.2009

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Agenda

• About Reform resource centre for men in Oslo
• Gender stereotypes
• Context and core conditions for fatherhood
• Challenges for the future

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Exercise

• What was your father like? Memorize and reflect
  with the person next to you for 2 minutes.

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Question

• Men and women do have equal potential for
  caregiving.
• Totally yes
• Partly yes
• Partly no
• Totally no

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Reform resource centre for men

• A non-profit NGO
• National centre for knowledge on men and boys
• Promotes male perspectives in the media and in
  the general public related to gender equality
• Initiates and participates in several national
  projects focusing on men and boys
• International projects
• Helps men on the local level
• Receives annual funding from the Norwegian
  Ministry of Children and Equality
• Additional project funding

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Reform aims to

• Improve mens and boys life quality in a gender
  equality perspective
• Develop, collect and disseminate knowledge on men
  and boys
• Support men and boys on the local level with
  relevant services
• Promote gender equality as a win win situation

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Reform has a unique position as a resource centre
for men
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Reform runs the following services for men

• Website www.reform.no
• Individual counselling service
• Anger management groups
• Free legal aid service
• Mens helpline
• Seminars and workshops

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Basic stereotypes

• Masculinity
• Gender
• Homophobia

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The four basic rules of masculinity

• No sissy stuff
• Be a big wheel
• Be a sturdy oak
• Give em hell
• US in the 70s

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• New research on neurochemistry tells us that
  women are more fitted to take care of infants
  than men. Gender differences are placed in the
  brain
• Annica Dahlstrom, 2008 (S)

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Gender equality

• A society built on diversity and equality, where
  power and care are shared irrespective of gender

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Masculinity and care in todays Norway

• Professional care
• Gender segregated labour market
• Male employees are rare in care- and education
  related sectors like ECE, primary health care,
  institutions for the elderly
• Private care
• 90 fathers take advantage of the fathers quota
  of 6 weeks, 17 use more than 7 weeks (2008)
• Mothers keep the main custody for children after
  divorce/separation (80)

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Recent political measures in Norway with focus on
fathers

• Fathers quota of 10 weeks out of 48 (2009), 14
  weeks next step?
• Report on men, mens roles and gender equality
  has been launched (St.meld. Nr. 8, 2008) from the
  MGE. To be discussed in the Parliament in spring
  2009
• Implementation of fathers groups on a national
  level

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Some facts on fathers and men

• There is no annual statistics on fathers in
  Norway
• Fathers do take more advantage of arrangements
  for fathers leave and work life balance when
  available
• Fathers involvement are diverse and also related
  to culture, socio-economic and ethnic background
• Mens ability to self-care seems to be deficient

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• The number of men not becoming fathers are
  increasing - 25 among men between 40 50 years
  of age (Skrede, 2005)
• Gender equality in families gives better life
  quality, for both men and women
• Health conditions are negatively affected by
  divorce/separation for both men and women

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The families practice in Norway 3 models

• Breadwinner households with one job
• Partially egalitarian households with
  one-and-a-half jobs
• More egalitarian household with two jobs
  (dual-career model)

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Reasons for men to contact Reform (2007)

• Family related counselling (21)
• Divorce or separation (20)
• Domestic violence matters (19)
• Child custody arrangements and conflicts (15)
• Lifestyle related matters (10)
• Others (15)

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Fathers in families with starting problems
(2007)

• Project on fathers in families experiencing pre-
  or post natal depressions
• Documentation - through two fathers groups (20
  fathers) lasting 6 months each of expressed
  needs, experiences, efforts, practice, WLB etc
• Publication of a tool-kit addressed to health
  care and family workers

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Health situation after divorce

• Men and women are afflicted after
  divorce/separation
• No significant gender differences
• Men suffer more from isolation and
  disconnection
• Women more overload and depression
• Oftung, Knut (2009) Amato, Paul (2000)

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Different scripts used by fathers after
divorce/separation

• The providing father
• The helping father
• The gender equal father
• These scripts are used by men to manage and deal
  with their own vulnerability regarding their
  contact with their children.
• Knut Oftung, 2009.

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Father does - A publication on fathers and care
in a lifetime perspective (2008)

• preparedness
• start phase
• work and family life balance
• caring activities
• various practices
• break ups/downs
• risks
• late phase

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New visions among fathers

• Use of time
• Continuity
• New narratives on fathers caring and present
• Everyday life for fathers - WLB
• Variation and diversity
• Household activities
• Policies and welfare arrangements

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Obstacles

• The pay gap
• Work life culture
• Gender segregated labour market
• The mother presumption
• Legislation and regulations

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Challenges

• The exposure of caring masculinities we need
  more knowledge about mens contribution and
  capacity to care
• Enhanced conditions for new fathering on
  structural levels
• Extension and discussions on masculinity and care
  in the public debate
• Variation and diversity
• Plural perspectives on fatherhood
• The economic situation
• Media

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• Do you spend time with your family?
• Good
• Because a man that doesnt spend time with his
  family, can never be a real man.
• (Marlon Brando in the Godfather 1972)

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Thank you!