Fathers should be granted the right to paid paternity leave, a survey of men and women in Northern Ireland showed today.
A study of 1,800 men and women and 259 young people aged 12 to 17 by Queen's University and the University of Ulster found that 80 per cent favoured paid paternity leave for fathers, with 64 per cent believing men could care for their children as well as women.
The Men's Life and Times survey also showed:
- 23% felt children should always stay with their mother after a divorce;
- 84% of respondents thought men should be given advice prior to their child's birth;
- 87% wanted doctors to provide health clinics where men could get medical check-ups, advice and information;
- 71% favoured telephone helplines run by men for men going through difficult times;
- 88% believed there should be courses for men to deal with their violent behaviour;
- 75% felt girls should be encouraged in schools to train for jobs normally associated with men, while 72% felt boys should be encouraged to train for jobs usually associated with women;[ QL]
- 52% felt a man's top priority should be to act as the main breadwinner in the home rather than raising children. However, only 37% of under 35-year-olds held this view (45% of men and 31% of women) compared with 72% of those aged 55 and over (74% of men and 69% of women);
- Half of men and women backed the idea of a male contraceptive pill (47% men, 52% women) but 7% opposed contraception of any kind. However, 44% of men said they wouldn't take the pill, with 58% of women believing that would happen;
- 75% of people believed women preferred to be in charge of contraception (72% of men and 78% of women);
- 53% opposed discrimination against gays and bisexuals, with only 15% disagreeing (58% of women, 46% of men). However, only 27% agreed gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples (32% women, 22% men).
Researcher Mr Steve Biddulph said while women's lives were not perfect, they were certainly freer than their mothers or grandmothers.
But he argued that in the 21st century people were beginning to realise "men are horrendously limited in their life expectations".
"Our industrialised society only values us to work as machines and gives little thought to our needs to be good fathers, friends, community members and creative beings," he said.
"Some men's liberation is clearly called for and, sure enough, it's beginning to show up in the thinking of Northern Ireland people."
The chief commissioner with Northern Ireland’s Equality Commission, Ms Joan Harbison told the launch of the survey that gender stereotyping was placing limitations on men and on society in general to the detriment of all.
"This research is both interesting and important as it challenges the myths perpetuated by such gender stereotyping," she said.
"I hope it will stimulate discussion and awareness of the issues surrounding men's roles in the family, in the workplace and in the community."
PA