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Are they ideological renegades? Fathers' experiences on taking parental leave and gender dynamics in Korea: A qualitative study

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  • Seo‐Young Byun
  • Sook‐Yeon Won

Abstract

Despite their fear of repercussions on career advancement and gender identity, Korean fathers taking parental leave have continually increased. Why do Korean fathers take parental leave in spite of the risk of being stigmatized as less masculine and less ideal workers? Are they willing to be ‘ideological renegades' to be new involved fathers? In‐depth interviews with fathers who took parental leave provide interesting answers. Overall, taking parental leave does not make fathers become ideological renegades since it is mainly utilized in a manner that accommodates the work devotion schema, deviating from the formal policy objectives. This deviant utilization is encouraged and even valued by organizations. This may be part of a psychological contract between organizations and employees, ensuring that employees are dedicated to their career even during parental leave. Furthermore, beyond the legal eligibility of uptake, informal but powerful ‘organizational eligibility' such as high performance or their contribution to the organization, makes not only the likelihood but also the aftermath of taking up different across fathers. As a result, a hierarchy among fathers with class connotations emerges. This hierarchy among fathers, combined with the traditional gender hierarchy, may reinforce the masculine fabric of ideal workers as the norm.

Suggested Citation

  • Seo‐Young Byun & Sook‐Yeon Won, 2020. "Are they ideological renegades? Fathers' experiences on taking parental leave and gender dynamics in Korea: A qualitative study," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 592-614, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:27:y:2020:i:4:p:592-614
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12410
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Trude Lappegard, 2008. "Changing the Gender Balance in Caring: Fatherhood and the Division of Parental Leave in Norway," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 27(2), pages 139-159, April.
    2. Leslie Baxter, 2016. "A Grounded Theory Study Of The Establishment Of Public–Private Alliances In Official Development Assistance Programmes," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 569-587, May.
    3. Richard N. Block & Joo-Young Park & Young-Hee Kang, 2013. "Statutory leave entitlements across developed countries: Why US workers lose out on work–family balance," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 152(1), pages 125-143, March.
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    1. Trang Thi Quynh Dinh & Janne Tienari, 2022. "Brothers and broken dreams: Men, masculinity, and emotions in platform capitalism," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 609-625, March.
    2. Sven Horak & Yuliani Suseno, 2023. "Informal Networks, Informal Institutions, and Social Exclusion in the Workplace: Insights from Subsidiaries of Multinational Corporations in Korea," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(3), pages 633-655, September.
    3. Jasmine Kelland & Duncan Lewis & Virginia Fisher, 2022. "“Viewed with suspicion, considered idle and mocked‐working caregiving fathers and fatherhood forfeits”," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1578-1593, September.

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