In the 1940s, Britain’s nascent welfare state was designed around male financial responsibility for their families – unmarried mothers were intentionally disregarded.
Childcare subsidies give mothers the choice to work and help reduce the earnings gap between mothers and fathers. In time, it may lead to greater acceptance of working mothers for future generations.
A fatherhood researcher argues that US work policies, income inequality, gender attitudes and health care all make it harder for dads to be highly engaged at home.