Campaign Objectives
– To celebrate Father’s Day by raising awareness about paternity leave and gender roles in the home and at work
– To encourage uptake of paternity leave and sharing care work and household work especially during the pandemic and work-from-home
– To break barriers to gender equality by re-examining gendered norms and re-imagining men as caregivers and working fathers
Background
Father’s Day is a day of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. On this year Father’s Day, we want to highlight the importance of paternity leave. Paternity leave has also been found to reduce parenting stress, postpartum depression, maternal mortality, and intimate partner violence. In all countries, women spend more time on unpaid work than men. Access to paid paternity leave has been found to produce a more equal distribution of unpaid work and shift social norms around shared caregiving. The sharing of unpaid work allows women more time to spend on paid labor market activities or further learning opportunities. A 2016 World Bank study found a positive relationship between paternity leave and women’s employment, including a 6.8% increase in the number of female workers at firms with mandated paternity leave.
In the Workplace
In the workplace, changed gender norms about parenting can reduce stigma around taking time off for childcare and promote more equal hiring practices. Providing both parents with access to paid parental leave can also improve household income and economic security. Women’s improved access to employment alleviates poverty and allows for increased investment in child health and education. When mothers work, daughters are more likely to stay in school longer, seek out work and earn higher wages. McKinsey Global Institute has calculated that if women’s and men’s workforce participation were identical, global GDP could increase by $28 trillion by 2025.
What is #KhitPhitPhayPhay?
The word “KhitThit” means modern and “PhayPhay” means father in Myanmar language. It reimagines modern men breaking away from traditional gender norms to be responsible fathers in caregiving and to be an equal partner.
BCGE advocates for and works with businesses to create better workplaces through activities and initiatives that address workplace gender equality. In re-imaging gender norms and gender equality for #KhitThitPhayPhay (a modern father), BCGE encourages taking paternity leave to challenge the gender norm of women as sole childcarers, and to re-imagine the role of men as responsible fathers that support their partners in childcare.
This year #KhitThitPhayPhay campaign calls for fathers to take paternity leave and encourages the business sector to promote the uptake of employees taking paternity leave.
Campaign Activities
1. Employee Testimonials with Family Photos
– We are collecting employee testimonials from our member companies. The objective of the testimonial is to encourage uptake in paternity leave and reimagine men as modern fathers who participate in childcare and housework as equal partners.
– The photo should include the father, ideally doing illustrating how he is a #KhitThitPhayPhay by doing housework, taking care of his child, or spending time with the family.
– Employee testimonials and photos by members have to be sent by Friday 26th June.
Sample questions:
– Why should fathers take paternity leave?
– Who does the childcare work at home? Do you think men/fathers should take paternity leave?
– Question to dads: Do you help with childcare at home? What benefits have you seen as a result?
– Question to moms: Does your husband help with childcare at home? What benefits have you seen as a result?
2. Panel Discussion: “Benefits of Paternity Leave
The panel discussion will be conducted in partnership with Duwun Media and will be broadcasted on Tuesday 30th June via our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
Moderator:
- Daw Kyawt Kay Thi Win, Country Director, BCGE
Our Panelists:
- U Win Myint Aung, Group Corporate Affairs Director, City Holdings Co., Ltd.
- Daw Aye Myat Maw, Executive Director at YKKO Group of Companies Limited
- U Han Thein Lwin, CEO of Shwe Taung Engineering & Construction
3. #KhitThitPhayPhay Photo Challenge
We invite all fathers to join our #KhitThitPhayPhay photo challenge to express gratitude for fathers in non-traditional roles who are breaking down gender norms by helping with childcare and housework.
How to participate:
