Despite the efforts of governments and employers in recent years to boost the number of women in the workforce, research shows taking time out of work to care for young children remains a very gendered activity. Women not only take more parental leave, but they also experience reduced work hours and longer-term withdrawal from employment than men.

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That's not to say progress hasn't happened. Of mothers of a child aged under one year, the proportion employed almost doubled from 30 per cent to 57 per cent between 1991 and 2021.

Until caregiving is more equally shared, women will co

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