Involved fatherhood in Slovakia? A multi-dimensional picture painted using multiple methods

Abstract

While multiple Western European countries have introduced leave policies that set aside well-paid leave for fathers – policy expected to support more involved fatherhood – post-socialist Central and Eastern European countries were slower to follow. The 2010 Slovak fathers’ leave policy reform was an early regional exception in granting fathers 28 weeks of high leave benefits not transferable to mothers. The reform provides a unique opportunity to explore the extent to which such policy may foster involved fatherhood in a post-socialist context characterized by practices, individual attitudes and societal norms geared towards fathers’ economic provision rather than hands-on childcare. I draw on a three-dimensional conceptualization of paternal involvement, entailing engagement, accessibility and responsibility; and a combination of methods – qualitative (38 interviews with fathers and mothers) and quantitative (unique administrative microdata). My qualitative analysis shows that fathers’ leave-taking can stimulate greater engagement and accessibility but brings about less change in fathers’ responsibility for children. My quantitative analysis reveals further limits to the policy’s potential for fostering fathers’ involvement: a considerable proportion of fathers were excluded from using the policy and among those eligible, fathers with lower-class markers were less likely to use it.