Fatherhood, Paternity Leave, and Shifting Care Masculinities in Urban African Households

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 113–126

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001353

Article Type: Research Article

Title: Fatherhood, Paternity Leave, and Shifting Care Masculinities in Urban African Households

Names of Author: Tafadzwa Moyo¹, Lucas Ribeiro², & Ingrid Bergman³

Author's Affiliation: ¹Department of Sociology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; ²Department of Social Psychology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; ³Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Abstract:
Achieving substantive gender equality in paid employment requires dismantling the entrenched division of unpaid domestic and childcare labor within households. While legislative reforms in several countries have introduced statutory paternity leave to encourage men’s active participation in early infant care, workplace stigma, fear of career penalties, and traditional norms equating manhood with financial breadwinning often result in low uptake among fathers. Nevertheless, shifting urban economic realities and dual-earner family structures are prompting a new generation of men to renegotiate involved fatherhood. This paper investigates the attitudes, barriers, and lived experiences of fathers taking paternity leave in urban Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Sweden. Grounded in critical studies on men and masculinities and care ethics, the study analyzes qualitative interviews with 45 dual-earner couples. We demonstrate that non-transferable, fully paid paternity leave policies paired with supportive workplace leadership accelerate equitable care sharing.

Keywords: Involved fatherhood, paternity leave, care masculinities, unpaid care work, dual-earner households, gender equality, social policy, work-family balance

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 27, 2026; Revised: October 26, 2026; Accepted: October 30, 2026; Published: November 16, 2026.

Citation: Moyo, T., Ribeiro, L., & Bergman, I. (2026). Fatherhood, Paternity Leave, and Shifting Care Masculinities in Urban African Households. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(11), 113–126. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001353

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