Employers discriminate against stay-at-home fathers for using career re-entry assistance

What is it about?

This article shows how when men act in ways that do not match traditional gender roles, they can face penalties in the labor market. The study finds that when fathers ask for help (in the form of a return-to-work internship) to get back into their careers after taking a break for childcare, they are penalized in terms of interview likelihood and recommended compensation compared to fathers who did not ask for help. This "help-seeking paradox" doe not seem to apply for mothers. The study also found that if fathers work full-time for two years after taking a break, this helps reduce the negative effects of asking for help yet they still face hiring discrimination relative to their mother counterparts.

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Photo by OPPO Find X5 Pro on Unsplash

Photo by OPPO Find X5 Pro on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research demonstrates how the reinforcement of cultural gender rules punishes both mothers and fathers seeking more equitable career coordination, while providing novel insight into the boundaries of penalties for men who violate gender stereotypes.