Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries
Authors: Olsson Maria I. T. , van Grootel Sanne , Block Katharina , Schuster Carolin , Meeussen Loes , Van Laar Colette , Schmader Toni , Croft Alyssa , Sun Molly Shuyi , Ainsaar Mare , Aarntzen Lianne , Adamus Magdalena , Anderson Joel , Atkinson Ciara , Avicenna Mohamad , Bąbel Przemysław , Barth Markus , Benson‐Greenwald Tessa M. , Maloku Edona , Berent Jacques , Bergsieker Hilary B. , Biernat Monica , Bîrneanu Andreea G. , Bodinaku Blerta , Bosak Janine , Bosson Jennifer , Branković Marija , Burkauskas Julius , Čavojová Vladimíra , Cheryan Sapna , Choi Eunsoo , Choi Incheol , Contreras‐Ibáñez Carlos C. , Coogan Andrew , Danyliuk Ivan , Dar‐Nimrod Ilan , Dasgupta Nilanjana , de Lemus Soledad , Devos Thierry , Diab Marwan , Diekman Amanda B. , Efremova Maria , Eisner Léïla , Eller Anja , Erentaite Rasa , Fedáková Denisa , Franc Renata , Gartzia Leire , Gavreliuc Alin , Gavreliuc Dana , Gecaite‐Stonciene Julija , Germano Adriana L. , Giovannelli Ilaria , Diaz Renzo Gismondi , Gitikhmayeva Lyudmila , Gizaw Abiy Menkir , Gjoneska Biljana , González Omar Martínez , González Roberto , Grijalva Isaac David , Güngör Derya , Sendén Marie Gustafsson , Hall William , Harb Charles , Hassan Bushra , Hässler Tabea , Hawi Diala R. , Henningsen Levke , Hoppe Annedore , Ishii Keiko , Jakšić Ivana , Jasini Alba , Jurkevičienė Jurgita , Kelmendi Kaltrina , Kirby Teri A. , Kitakaji Yoko , Kosakowska‐Berezecka Natasza , Kozytska Inna , Kulich Clara , Kundtová‐Klocová Eva , Kunuroglu Filiz , Aidy Christina Lapytskaia , Lee Albert , Lindqvist Anna , López‐López Wilson , Luzvinda Liany , Maricchiolo Fridanna , Martinot Delphine , McNamara Rita Anne , Meister Alyson , Melka Tizita Lemma , Mickuviene Narseta , Miranda‐Orrego María Isabel , Mkamwa Thadeus , Morandini James , Morton Thomas , Mrisho David , Nikitin Jana , Otten Sabine , Pacilli Maria Giuseppina , Page‐Gould Elizabeth , Perandrés Ana , Pizarro Jon , Pop‐Jordanova Nada , Pyrkosz‐Pacyna Joanna , Quta Sameir , Ramis TamilSelvan , Rani Nitya , Redersdorff Sandrine , Régner Isabelle , Renström Emma A. , Rivera‐Rodriguez Adrian , Rocha Sánchez Tania Esmeralda , Ryabichenko Tatiana , Saab Rim , Sakata Kiriko , Samekin Adil , Sánchez‐Pachecho Tracy , Scheifele Carolin , Schulmeyer Marion K. , Sczesny Sabine , Sirlopú David , Smith‐Castro Vanessa , Soo Kadri , Spaccatini Federica , Steele Jennifer R. , Steffens Melanie C. , Sucic Ines , Vandello Joseph , Velásquez‐Díaz Laura Maria , Vink Melissa , Vives Eva , Warkineh Turuwark Zalalam , Žeželj Iris , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Zhao Xian , Martiny Sarah E. 
Published: January 2023

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender‐based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental‐leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental‐leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental‐leave policies and women's political representation partially explained cross‐national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender‐egalitarian parental‐leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross‐national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross‐national variations in women's (rather than men's) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender‐egalitarian policies (linked to men's higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men's leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed.