I don't think they were suggesting that it becomes the norm that only fathers stay home.
Only that paternity leave should be considered normal, something that all companies offer and expect you to take. Whether both parents are at home, or just the dad in cases where the mother can't easily take time off, either is fine.
Currently there is a gender asymmetry in that maternity leave is normal (and required by law), but paternity leave is frequently non-existent, or discouraged.
Normalized paternity leave is the norm in most of Europe.
I took four weeks off for our first child, and will be taking 3-4 weeks off for the second. It's awesome.
> Currently there is a gender asymmetry in that maternity leave is normal (and required by law), but paternity leave is frequently non-existent, or discouraged.
In the US, at the federal level, maternity and paternity leave (both unpaid) are covered by the same mandate (FMLA).
In California, paid maternity and paternity leave are covered by the same mandate.
That doesn't negate the social asymmetry, of course.
Only that paternity leave should be considered normal, something that all companies offer and expect you to take. Whether both parents are at home, or just the dad in cases where the mother can't easily take time off, either is fine.
Currently there is a gender asymmetry in that maternity leave is normal (and required by law), but paternity leave is frequently non-existent, or discouraged.
Normalized paternity leave is the norm in most of Europe.
I took four weeks off for our first child, and will be taking 3-4 weeks off for the second. It's awesome.