Parental Leave in Austria and Iceland. A comparison with a focus on the correlation to the Gender Pay Gap

This paper examines the potential impact of parental leave systems on the gender pay gap by comparing the cases of Austria and Iceland. The analysis takes into account the welfare state models that apply to these countries and how they are linked to the provision of social benefits related to childcare and parental leave. The objective is to gain a better understanding of the role that parental leave policies play in promoting gender equality in the workplace.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Problem
• The purpose of the essay and the research questions that guide the study
• Social work
• Method
• Theoretical perspectives
• Welfare State
• Gender-Pay-Gap, Gender-Overall-Earnings-Gap
• Parental leave systems in Austria and Iceland
• Focus on non-heteronormative family models
• Presentation of the empirical material
• Gender Pay Gap in Austria and Iceland

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

The objective of this paper is to examine the potential impact of parental leave systems on the gender pay gap by comparing the cases of Austria and Iceland. This analysis takes into account the welfare state models that apply to these countries and how they are linked to the provision of social benefits related to childcare and parental leave.

• The correlation between parental leave systems and the gender pay gap
• The role of welfare state models in promoting gender equality
• The impact of parental leave policies on the career trajectories of men and women
• The influence of income on parental leave behavior
• The differences in parental leave systems and their effects on the gender pay gap in Austria and Iceland

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of parental leave systems and their potential impact on the gender pay gap, focusing on a comparison between Austria and Iceland. It highlights the importance of gender equality and the role of social benefits related to childcare and parental leave.
• The Problem: This chapter discusses the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, specifically goal 5, which focuses on gender equality. It highlights the different parental leave models in Iceland and Austria and their potential effects on the gender pay gap.
• The purpose of the essay and the research questions that guide the study: This chapter outlines the main goal of the essay, which is to examine the correlation between parental leave systems and the gender pay gap in Austria and Iceland. It introduces two hypotheses related to the impact of parental leave models and welfare state systems on gender equality.
• Social work: This chapter explores the role of social work in addressing gender inequality and its complex interconnectedness with other societal issues. It emphasizes the importance of an intersectional perspective to effectively address these issues.
• Method: This chapter explains the methodology used in the study, which involves a literature review, comparison of statistics and laws in the individual countries, and a link to existing theoretical research on the topics.
• Theoretical perspectives: This chapter introduces the theoretical perspectives related to the study, focusing on welfare states, gender pay gap, and parental leave systems. It examines the different types of welfare states and their characteristics, specifically highlighting the conservative and social democratic models.
• Welfare State: This chapter provides an overview of the concept of the welfare state, its evolution, and its primary aims. It also discusses the feminist critique of the welfare state's lack of attention to care work and the challenges faced by women in the workforce.
• Gender-Pay-Gap, Gender-Overall-Earnings-Gap: This chapter defines the gender pay gap and the gender-overall-earnings-gap, highlighting the differences in income between men and women and the factors contributing to these disparities.
• Parental leave systems in Austria and Iceland: This chapter presents a detailed overview of the parental leave systems in both Austria and Iceland, outlining the different models, benefits, and eligibility criteria.
• Focus on non-heteronormative family models: This chapter explores the inclusion of same-sex couples in parental leave benefits and adoption rights in both Austria and Iceland.
• Presentation of the empirical material: This chapter presents empirical data and studies related to parental leave systems and their impact on gender equality in both countries. It examines the evolution of parental leave models in Iceland and Austria, focusing on the impact of legislation on the take-up rate of paternity leave and the distribution of childcare after maternity leave.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper explores the relationship between parental leave systems, welfare state models, and the gender pay gap. Key terms include: gender equality, parental leave, welfare state, gender pay gap, social benefits, childcare, Austria, Iceland, career trajectories, income, employment rate, family models, non-heteronormative families, and intersectionality.

Details

• College: University of Örebro (Universität Örebro)
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Claudia Seidl (Author)
• Publication Year: 2023
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V1361825
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346886958
• Language: English
• Tags: Parental Leave Väterkarenz Austria Iceland Österreich Island Karenz Gleichberechtigung Elternkarenz Gender Pay Gap Overall Earnings Gap Karenzmodelle Gender Frauen