In this Insurance Institute of London (IIL) inclusion & diversity lecture James Millar will explain the benefits to men, women, children and society that accrue when men do more domestic work including particularly childcare and become fully involved fathers, the barriers to that happening and how those hurdles can be overcome.

Men say they want to spend more time with their families. In a recent survey for GQ magazine, men chose ‘being a present father’ as the most important aspect of masculinity. However it’s not happening. Cultural and financial barriers are preventing men from fulfilling the role they want to play in the family. For example, four out of five men say they want greater flexibility in their work, yet only one in 20 has a flexible working agreement.

In this lecture, James will look at the benefits everyone gains when get fully involved in family life – from longer life for men to better mental health issues for women to more intelligent children. James will address the hurdles that are put in men’s way covering society, policy, economics and culture. Finally, he will offer a manifesto for change – a range of steps that everyone can to move move us towards more equal parenting.

By the end of this lecture members would have gained an insight into:

• The benefits to everyone when men take on more parenting
• The barriers to men getting more involved in family life
• How everyone can challenge and overcome those barriers

Chair:
Michaela Gibson.