Thankfully we live in a time where gender roles are in a state of flux: these days, both men and woman contribute the housework, both sexes go out and make money, and both mum and dad should have time off work to bond with a new baby. Right?
Well according to one mum, father's should "go out and pay the bills" while the mother is left at home to bond with the baby.
Discussing Prince Harry's trip to Hauge just four days after his son was born on ITV's This Morning, journalist Alley Einstein and presenter Vanessa Feltz debated over whether paternity leave should be scrapped.
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Praising the Duke of Sussex, Alley argued that the father should continue working in the weeks after a child is born, saying: "Prince Harry is stepping up, he's saying 'I have to travel for work' and so do many men in this country, they have to travel for work and pay the bills."
Alley said that "the women is there to look after the child initially," adding, "It's a very precious time" for the mother and child.
She also said that paternity leave could be seen as "forcing a man" into their child's lives "when they're not really sure what their role should be".
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Responding to host Holly Willoughby, who quizzed her on her views that women who want their partner to be around in those early days are being "needy," she said: "We spend a lot of time saying we're strong women, we're amazing, we can do anything, and the moment that child is born we say 'oh well you've got to sit there and do everything I tell you to.'"
In contrast, Vanessa Feltz argues that paternity was a valuable time for both parents to bond with their child.
Despite Alley calling her view "modern", many disagreed, calling paternity vital for both parents.
One Twitter user argued: "Men not knowing what to do is a good enough reason to take paternity leave. Do you think new mothers automatically know what to do?
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"They need to support each other, paternity leave encourages that."
Another called Alley's views "archaic", adding: "I had a little baby 11 weeks ago me & [sic] my husband raise our daughter together. It's not solely my responsibility or his. He took 3 weeks off paternity leave & we share everything."
Currently, UK paternity laws allow a father one or two weeks paid leave after the birth of their child.
Featured Image Credit: UnsplashTopics: Life News, Life, Parenting
