Schritt für Schritt

This book publishes the findings of research into fathers in Austria. It focuses on qualitative aspects of their paternity leave, the challenges met by their partners and, finally, their long-term involvement in family work.
The book’s main research areas are fathers on paternity leave, paid and unpaid work, working conditions and contracts, and parental part-time work.
In addition to analysing the aforementioned qualitative data set, the book examines quantitative (inter)national data on gender employment rates and research on gender in the workplace. It explores the qualitative findings theoretically, using feminist theories, gender studies and the sociology of the family as a basis.
Qualitative research in Austria provides insights into its policies on paternity leave, which are embedded in an income-based model. The data set presented consists of 36 guided interviews with fathers on leave, 12 with their female partners, 16 with human resources managers and a further 14 interviews with parents after parental leave.