Flexible Work Policies Deepen Parenting Gap for Academic Women
Survey research of more than 10,000 parent academics finds women take on more childcare when flexible working policies are in place.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Child Care
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Research led by Sugimoto and colleagues, drawing on a survey of more than 10,000 parent academics at universities and research organizations worldwide, found that women in academia do more parenting than men when flexible working policies are available. Men used the same flexibility to justify doing less parenting than their female partners.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that flexibility alone does not produce equal sharing of childcare, and that it can reinforce existing gender roles in households and careers. Researchers in the study linked the pattern to academic autonomy and high output expectations.
The study surveyed more than 10,000 parent academics globally, and a separate UK survey of 26 female academics found flexible policies made career progression harder after having children. The extraction does not report how the findings differ between countries or sectors.
The players
Sugimoto
Lead researcher on the survey of more than 10,000 parent academics examining how flexible working policies shape parenting and career outcomes in academia.
The details
Women used flexible hours to take on more parenting, while some who worked from home, finished early, or went part-time were seen as less committed. When men tried to parent more using flexibility, they often faced belittling comments or career impacts, and coaching a child's sports team was the only task men consistently did more of than women.
Timeline
2026: Growing body of research on flexible policies published this year.
COVID-19 pandemic: Parenting became more equal in many households during this period.
Season Trajectory
The pattern echoes the broader shift seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many households reported more equal parenting. The survey suggests formal flexibility in academia has not produced the same leveling effect.
For parents in demanding careers, flexible hours can make it easier to handle school runs and sick days, but the study suggests the extra parenting load may fall mainly on one partner. Those considering flexible arrangements may want to discuss how childcare responsibilities will be split before committing.
The takeaway
Flexibility helps only when both partners use it, so couples may benefit from explicitly agreeing on who handles which parenting tasks rather than assuming equal sharing will follow.
Further reading
Explore more on Child Care to see how work arrangements shape parenting across households.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nature.
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