FATHERHOOD IN RUSSIA Dr. Marina Malysheva Dr. Marina Pisklakova-Parker Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Institute on Socio-Economic Studies of the Population Presented at the seminar in Vardinge (Sweeden) in July 2016 SAfE project – Solidarity Action for Equality

General statistics on the status of children in Russia Every year 60 thousands of parents lose their parental rights. As the result children each day become orphans 700 thousands of children are now in the boarding houses 37 thousands of children dont have elementary education and 22,5 children are illiterate Only in Moscow there are 60 thousands of street-children4 in Russia 5-7 millions 90 thousands of children every year run away from home because of the maltreatment: 10% of them commit suicide Each day 1500 of divorces is registered in Russia

Fatherhood in Russia Today Republic of Karelia Based on IMAGES questionnaire adopted to Russian context November-December 2015

General survey characteristics We used random sampling based on voter registration list The sample size is 790 men Targeted group: men of ages 54% of the respondents had children: - 54% - 1 child - 37,5 % - 2 children - 6,5% - 3 children - 2% - 4 children

Where were fathers at the delivery moment? 16% were in the delivery room 34,8% were at home 6,7% were out of the city or lived in a different place 26, 2 were at work 16,4% were inside the hospital

Decision to be present or not during the delivery 24,6% of men did not want to be present during the delivery 21,6% said that the wife or her family did not want husband to be present 3,3% wanted to be present but were not allowed 4,7% of men said that they felt fear

Men and parental leave when the 1 st child was born 75,2% men took a leave Out of them 27,4% had paid leave for 1 day 44,4% had unpaid leave for 1 day 14,5% - had one week of paid leave 11,1% - had one week of unpaid leave

Care about a child after his birth 0,7% of men took care about a child by themselves 88% did it with the wife 1,3% did it with the other relatives or adult people

62,8% of fathers said that the leave for caring about the newly born child helped them in future to have more close relationships 34,1% were not sure 3% said no More close relationships

Wanted child 73,4% of men wanted to have a child 8,8 did not want

14% of men regularly visited the doctor when the wife was pregnant 60% visited the doctor with the wife several times 25% of men never visited the doctor with the pregnant wife Visiting the doctor

Unwanted children 41% of men witness that wives did abortions 49% of men took joint decisions with wives about making abortion 38% of men gave money for abortion 28,6% of men accompanied their wives to abortion because they needed moral support

Fathers care in action Every 5 th child grew up without fathers care

Doing school work together 30,5% of fathers helped often 33,1% helped from time to time 31% helped rarely or never

Family obligationsHow frequently, % Often Someti mes Very rarely Never No answer Totally Bought food37,741,212,5 4,64,0100 Cooked food13,943,027,711,24,2100 Cleaned the home 8,735,434,017,44,5100 Did laundry 4,414,633,542,35,2100 Helped with school homework 30,533,123,2 7,85,4100 Took care of you and your brothers and sisters 55,124,8 5,4 3,611,1100 Fathers engagement in domestic work and family obligations (respondents could chose more than one answer)

Male attitudes to gender roles Opinion Fully agree PartlyDisagree The most important role for a woman is to take care of the home and to cook 56,737,16,2 Changing diapers, bathing and feeding children is the mother's duty 33,543,922,7 Traditional masculinity with low participation in family domestic cores

Making final decisions in a family A person, responsible for the decision, % Types of decisions MomDadBoth Someo ne else No answe r Totall y The final decision on matters concerning you, your brothers and sisters (school, clubs, etc.)? 42,9 8,842,11,94,3100

Preference in time spending together with a wife/female partner

Evaluation of personal contribution into family everyday life YesNo Do not know No answer I spend too little time with the children because of my work. 54,234,67,24,0 I would agree to work less if it allowed me to spend more time with the children. 33,838,419,18,8 In general, my primary duty is to support my family. 81,610,93,8 I'm afraid that if my wife and I divorce, I will not be able to see my children. 27,143,317,412,1 For me, caring for the children mainly means that I help my wife as needed. 48,937,75,38,1 ?

Do your own fathers biography! In general 48,9% of men consider that caring for the children mainly means that they help their wife as needed. This position is far from active fatherhood and means low investment into intellectual psychological and physical development of children. The proportion of men who want to interact actively with their children constitutes slightly over than the third part of the sample – 37,7%.

Who cares about a child regularly?

Who stays at home when the child is sick?

Pick up a child from school or kindergarten

Who takes the child to classes or clubs other than school?

Fathers activities with children aged 0 to 4 Rarely or never From time to time A few times a week Ever y day How often do you play with the children at home? 6,347,915,330,6 How often do you cook for the children or feed them? 42,037,813,37,0 How often do you change the children's diapers or clothes? 24,846,110,618,4 How often do you bathe the children? 17,039,727,016,3

Fathers activities with children aged 5 to 13 Rarely or never From time to time A few times a week Every day How often do you play with the children at home? 9,149,222,818,8 How often do you discuss personal topics with the children? 18,758,615,27,6 How often do you practice sports or play active games with the children? 9,859,325,85,2 How often do you help them with their homework? 13,841,526,717,9 How often do you cook for the children or feed them? 46,236,412,35,1 How often do you wash the children's clothes?80,413,94,11,5 :

Fathers who live apart with their children

Legislation and policy According to the RF Labor Code (Statue 128 of 2001) fathers can take 5 days of unpaid leave after the birth of the child 29,7% of the respondents said that they knew about this - YES 52,5% of the respondents said that they did no know about this – NO 17,8% of the respondents said that there is no such LAW – DOES NOT EXIST

Legislation and Policy Statue 256 of the Labor Code: any of the parents or relatives can get child care leave for three years after the birth delivery. During the first 1,5 months the state provides a benefit to a person with social insurance which is equal to 40% of her/his average salary. The next 1,5 years there is no benefit. Benefits are provided by the Fund of the social insurance at the working place of a person who requested the childs leave (part. 1 statue of the Federal Law of N 255). 19,5% of the respondents think that the leave is less than one week 26,4% consider that it is from one year to 1,5 year 32,9% said that the leave is available until three years 7 days 1 year 1,5 year 3 years

Expectations towards mens parental leave

Evaluation of law favorability to women and men in case of divorce Evaluation to gender % To the man 1,0 To the woman47,6 Laws are the same for both 37,9 Not sure13,5 Totally100 Table 7

Evaluation of chances for getting custody of the child/children

Law on establishing paternity

What does the law on paternity prescribe

Fathers Day in Russia 1993 First celebration of the Fathers Day in Yakutiya 2008 Seven regions celebrate the Fathers Day 2012 Moscow, St-Petersburg, Petrozavodsk celebrate the Fathers Day

Mens awareness about social actions on fatherhood 88% - never heard 4% heard and 2,6% of them were involved into information campaigns 8% did not answer

Thank you for your attention Laboratory for Gender Studies, Institute on Socio-Economic Studies of Population Dr. Marina Malysheva Dr. Marina Parker