A large majority of Irish mothers would prefer to work part-time, rather than full time, according to a major new survey study of family trends and attitudes. It also reveals a big difference between the sexes in terms of the sort of work/home life balance they want.
The Global Family and Gender Survey is a major international study that looks at family trends and attitudes in 11 different countries, including Ireland. It surveyed 2,500 Irish people aged 18-50 in 2018, among them 1,253 parents. The survey was overseen by the Institute for Family Studies in the United States and the Irish end was partly funded by The Iona Institute.
The survey finds 61 per cent of mothers with children under the age of 18 would work part-time if given the chance; but only 29 per cent of fathers would do the same.
It also finds that when parents have children aged under 4, there is a marked preference for looking after them at home, and that young parents want flexibility so they can come to the child-care arrangement that suits them best.
Stay-at-home father and spokesperson for the Iona Institute, Brendan Conroy, says the results show the need for a change Government policy:
“Government child-care policy must be more suited to what parents want, rather than prioritise the demands of employers, as it seems to do at present. For example, in terms of resources, the Government is currently discriminating in favour of day-care over other forms of child-care, especially minding a child at home. Tax individualisation strongly favours two-income couples over one-income couples.”
