It seems that re-characterizing the father stereotype is arguably the most decisive factor in bringing about the attitudinal change needed to move men’s and women’s family roles forward. Such an evolution would also have a beneficial influence on attitudinal and behavioural changes towards men as caregivers to dependent elderly parents and other dependent family members.

At a micro-social level, the main obstacles to progress clearly seem to be a failure of couples to talk to one another and the resistance of both to change. The age-old division of tasks is arguably still perceived by many as intrinsic to the affirmation of their respective gendered identities.

At the end of a European project supported by the European Commission and the Belgian Institute for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men, COFACE published a 20-page brochure presenting the Synthesis of the results and the Recommendations regarding the changing roles of men in families in Europe.

You can download the brochure hereafter in English, French, German, Greek, Finnish, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese.