Examining the Necessity of Paternity Leave for New Fathers Today

This essay argues for the necessity of paternity leave for new fathers, drawing on multiple research studies to support its claims. It highlights the benefits of paternity leave in improving parent-child bonding, increasing gender equity at home and in the workplace, and supporting the mother's physical and emotional recovery after childbirth. The essay references studies that show fathers taking longer paternity leaves are more involved in childcare, leading to higher cognitive scores in children. It also notes that a father's presence can reduce postpartum depression in mothers and stimulate the production of breast milk. The analysis concludes that policies supporting paternity leave can significantly increase the economic and personal well-being of families.

Running head: NECISSITY OF NEW FATHERS TO GET PATERNITY LEAVES
Necessity of New Fathers to Get Paternity Leaves
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1NECISSITY OF NEW FATHERS TO GET PATERNITY LEAVES
Abstract
This paper has been elaborated on exploring five secondary sources from the research
conducted on the topic on why fathers should get paternity leaves and why it is so important.
Although, the articles differ in certain definitions, reasons etc. but they are all in support of
the argument that has been one of the significant one among the scholars, researchers and
business man in modern era. This paper further presents some valid yet significant reasons
that cannot be denied. It examines the research paper by Petts and Knoester (2018), in
relation to the other four research articles in order to suggest that new fathers do need
paternity leaves.
Keywords: paternity leaves, maternity leaves, bonding, relationship, child, father, mother

2NECISSITY OF NEW FATHERS TO GET PATERNITY LEAVES
Necessity of New Fathers to Get Paternity Leaves and Why It Is So Important for the
Improvement of bonding with the Child
There are several research studies that have been conducted on different facts
exploring the importance or the uselessness of paternity leaves for new fathers. There are
studies like that of Petts and Knoester (2018), that suggest that in order to improve the
bonding in between the father and the child, paternity leaves for fathers are equally important
like that for mothers’. This essay is going to elaborate on assessing the different literatures in
order to have a better understanding on to why it is so important for fathers to take paternity
leaves.
In Petts and Knoester (2018), research paper they have claimed that in order to
improve parent-child bonding and to increase the gender equity at both work place and at
home, it is important for males to get paternity leaves. As per them, “Paternity leave is the
time when a father takes off from his work life because the birth or adoption of his new
child” (Petts & Knoester, 2018). Paid paternal leaves for both new fathers and mothers
provide a significant advantage to the working families. They provide a form of financial
relief to the new fathers and mothers and create a very positive and productive impact
through families. Likewise, Bartel et al. (2018) in their paper has stated that after giving birth
to a baby, women suffer from their weakest state and hence, in absence of help and support
from their husband, they might be in a great health danger. Fathers play a very important role
in making mothers to adapt to their regular and normal life and at the same time, to regain the
nutrition that they lost during giving birth.
Petts and Knoester (2018) have also reviewed a study conducted in the year 2017 by
Ko and Kim. In that study, Bartel et al. (2018) have claimed that women want their partners
way more than others after their delivery. They want to care and share the load of raising a
child with their partners. Women usually go through very harsh things while their pregnancy

3NECISSITY OF NEW FATHERS TO GET PATERNITY LEAVES
period and during their time of giving birth. They genuinely deserve a break after their labour
in order to become able to recuperate and become health once again. Furthermore, there are
lots of other studies as well that Petts and Knoester (2018) have mentioned about in his
research paper. Ko & Kim (2017), have also supported this fact and they in fact have claimed
that fathers having longer paternity leave is very advantageous for the better development of
a child. It is due to the fact that the fathers who take longer leaves would end up in becoming
much more involved in the care of their children. The study found that these longer paternal
leaves is directly linked with higher cognitive scores of test in the children. The experience of
bonding in between a new family member is a huge factor that play a very notable role in
proper and accurate development of child. Restricting or preventing the father from being its
parts is very bad.
Moreover, one of the studies conducted by Tremblay and Dodeler (2017) in this
context have stated that when pregnancy and labour trigger the caregiving instincts among
the mothers, fathers are required quality time with their children for their brains to shift into
“daddy mode”. The study has found that tuning into the cries of the infant always connect the
pathways in the brain of the fathers that is related to the social perception and furthermore,
bolsters the potential of the fathers to forge as well as to maintain their relationships.
Moreover, it is also to note that the study of Petts and Knoester (2018) have pointed out a
significant thing in this subject. They have claimed that the mothers, whose husband take
time off right away are very less likely to face depression after three months of giving birth.
Also the study conducted in the year 2017 have highlighted that having a partner at home can
boost the hormone levels of oxytocin and prolactin among the new mothers and this on the
other hand, could stimulated the production of breast milk and let-down. It is to note that it is
an era where the policies relating to paid leaves are evolving on global stage. Though in other
nations that have made much greater strides to supply generous and robust policies on
maternity leaves, the paternity leaves just lags behind. But, as per Petts and Knoester (2018),
innovative new efforts for boosting the use of paternal leaves for fathers are simply
accelerating the cultural change and are breaking down the gender stereotypes regarding
family and work.
Hence, from the above analysis it is to state that although the paid leaves are often
framed as issues that matters to the working ladies, paid paternal leaves are also critically
important for the fathers as well. The policies that make sure that the fathers have the support
that they need for prioritizing the family responsibilities along with meeting the working

4NECISSITY OF NEW FATHERS TO GET PATERNITY LEAVES
demands could notably increase the economic and the personal well-being of the families.
With the same, it is also to state that paternal leaves, especially longer paternal leaves could
promote that bonding in between parent and child and at the same time, improve the
outcomes for the children. Also, this can increase the gender equity at home.
References
Bartel, A. P., Rossin‐Slater, M., Ruhm, C. J., Stearns, J., & Waldfogel, J. (2018). Paid family
leave, fathers’ leave‐taking, and leave‐sharing in dual‐earner households. Journal of
Policy Analysis and Management, 37(1), 10-37.
Ko, G., & Kim, J. (2017). A Father's Child Rearing Experiences During Paternity
Leave. International Information Institute (Tokyo). Information, 20(3B), 2073-2082.
Petts, R. J., & Knoester, C. (2018). Paternity Leave‐Taking and Father Engagement. Journal
of marriage and family, 80(5), 1144-1162.