How can we become more equal? Public policies and parents’ work–family preferences in Germany

This study examines how public policies affect parents’ preferences for a more egalitarian division of paid and unpaid work. Based on the assumption that individuals develop their within specific policy context, we examine changes in three mothers’ fathers’ work–family preferences: availability high-quality, affordable childcare; right to return full-time job after having reduced hours part-time an increase number ‘partner months’ parental leave schemes. Analysing unique probability sample parents with young children Germany from 2015 ( N = 1756), find fathers would want work slightly fewer if they had position working part-time, mothers childcare opportunities were improved. Full-time parents, moreover, are found prefer independent setting, while non-employed like at least some hours. Last but not least, our analyses show increasing partner months scheme considerably increases longer shorter leave. Increasing schemes hence has greatest potential gender equality.