Can Public Policies Break the Gender Mold? Evidence from Paternity Leave Reforms in Six Countries

• Authors: Libertad González.
• BSE Working Paper: 110897 | February 24
• Keywords: regression discontinuity , paternity leave , gender norms , female-dominated occupations
• JEL codes: J08, J13, J16, J18
• regression discontinuity
• paternity leave
• gender norms
• female-dominated occupations

We investigate the impact of paternity leave policies on gender role attitudes in the next generation. We measure gender-stereotypical attitudes using an Implicit Association Test with 3,000 online respondents in six countries. Using an RD design, we observe a significant reduction (-0.21 SD) in gender-stereotypical attitudes among men born post-paternity leave implementation. This shift influences career choices, as men whose fathers were affected by the reform are more inclined to pursue counter-stereotypical jobs, particularly in high-skilled occupations like healthcare and education. Our findings highlight how paternity leave fosters egalitarian gender norms and affects the occupational choices of the next generation.