MONTREAL, JUNE 14, 2021 – An exclusive Canada-wide Leger survey of 2,000 fathers released on the occasion of Quebec Fatherhood Week (QFW) shows that in many respects, Quebec fathers differ from fathers in other Canadian provinces in that they have adopted a more modern view of their parental role, their commitment to their children, and to sharing family responsibilities.
When taken together, a series of indicators in this survey tends to show that Quebec fathers are the Canadian champions of paternal involvement. They are more likely to break with the traditional concept of the father as provider, to say that they share parental tasks more equitably, attach more importance to the concept of co-parenting and advocate shared custody in the event of marital separation. Finally, Quebec fathers have higher expectations of public policies that promote paternal involvement, such as parental leave and work-family balance measures.
Pollster Jean-Marc Léger, author of Cracking the Quebec Code – a book that examines the specific character traits of Quebecers – is pleased with these results, which he describes as excellent news for Quebec fathers and men:
We see that the Quebec difference revealed in Cracking the Quebec Code is also visible in this survey, which shows a difference in the spirit and practice of fatherhood in Quebec. Among other things, it shows that Quebec fathers are more involved in childcare and domestic tasks than fathers in the rest of Canada.
Raymond Villeneuve, executive director of the Regroupement pour la Valorisation de la Paternité, sees in these results a reflection of the impact of public policies supporting paternal involvement which are more developed in Quebec and which act as drivers for the evolution of the social norm of fatherhood. “These are small differences, but they are consistent and all point in the same direction, suggesting that Quebec fathers are more involved than fathers in other provinces and that they adopt a more egalitarian model of parenting,” he said.
According to Villeneuve, these new findings provide a concrete example of how our collective choices, such as public policy, influence our individual choices and help shape a different image of who we are as a society:
In keeping with the theme of the 2021 edition of Quebec Fatherhood Week, “7 Days to Talk About How and Where Fathers Fit in Public Policy,” we hope to launch a discussion on supporting fathers in public policy as a winning strategy for the well-being of children and equality between mothers and fathers. We see from the survey that it gets results.
For more information on the survey, go to:
https://www.semainedelapaternite.org/en/sondage-peres-2021-fiche-technique/
Microsite on dads and public policy
To mark Quebec Fatherhood Week, the Observatoire des tout-petits is launching a microsite on dads and public policy. The microsite will look at a variety of issues, including the impact of a father’s involvement on the development of young children, fathers’ paths during separation, policies that can promote work-family balance here and elsewhere, and organizations that have adapted their services to better reach fathers.
Fannie Dagenais, executive director of the Observatoire des tout-petits stated:
As a society, it is in our best interest to support the involvement of fathers and to ensure that they can take their rightful place. A strong father-child attachment can enhance a child’s development and self-esteem. Paternal involvement is also an essential component in meeting the challenge of work-family balance.
To consult the microsite of the Observatoire des tout-petits (online as of Monday, June 14), go to: https://tout-petits.org/publications/sur-le-radar/comment-favoriser-l-engagement-des-peres-par-nos-politiques-publiques/
About the 2021 edition of Quebec Fatherhood Week: 7 Days to Talk About How and Where Fathers Fit in Public Policy
Quebec Fatherhood Week takes place from June 14 to 20, 2021, under the theme “7 Days to Talk About How and Where Fathers Fit in Public Policy.” In addition to the results of the exclusive Léger survey of 2,000 Canadian fathers, the Regroupement pour la Valorisation de la Paternité is promoting a well-developed microsite launched by the Observatoire des tout-petits and is proposing its solutions for integrating a new fathering reflex in the development of our family support measures. Follow our daily posts on social media!
Facebook.com/rvpaternite
Twitter.com/rvpaternite
Instagram.com/rvpaternite
About the Regroupement pour la Valorisation de la Paternité
RVP is a group of 250 organizations and individuals from all regions of Quebec whose mandate is to promote paternal involvement for the well-being of children, from a family perspective and with respect for equality between women and men. RVP’s objective is to enable the integration of the realities of fathering into family services and public policies in Quebec.
-30-
Source : Regroupement pour la Valorisation de la Paternité
For more information or for interviews:
Sandrine Gagné
Morin Relations Publiques
sandrine@morinrp.com
Cell phone: 438 873-2909