FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11th, 2025
Bridgetown, Barbados – Redefining Masculinities commends the Mottley Administration for its commitment to gender equality and family well-being through the introduction of three weeks of statutory paternity leave for men, as announced in the 2025 Budget Speech. This landmark policy, slated to take effect on June 1, 2025, marks a significant step toward fostering greater gender equality, strengthening family bonds, and cultivating a more inclusive and supportive approach to parenting—benefiting children, mothers, and fathers alike.
The inclusion of paternity leave recognizes the invaluable role fathers play in the early stages of a child’s life, allowing them to bond with their newborns, provide emotional and physical support to mothers, and share in caregiving responsibilities. Research has consistently shown that involved fathers positively impact a child’s emotional, cognitive, and social development, leading to stronger families and healthier communities.
Beyond its immediate benefits to families, this policy also challenges traditional gender norms that have long placed childcare responsibilities disproportionately on women. By encouraging shared parental responsibility, Barbados is taking an important step toward redefining outdated societal expectations around fatherhood, promoting work-life balance, and advancing gender equity both in the home and the workplace. Furthermore, the removal of the requirement that both parents must live together to access these benefits ensures that all fathers, regardless of their living arrangements, can be present for their children.
While this initiative is a commendable first step, Redefining Masculinities encourages the government to continue expanding paternity leave in the future. Many countries that have implemented longer periods of paid paternity leave have seen significant improvements in gender equality, parental well-being, workplace productivity, and child development outcomes. As the policy evolves, we urge the government to continue engaging civil society organizations in meaningful consultation to ensure that future expansions effectively meet the needs of families.
We celebrate this historic policy shift and look forward to continued efforts to support fathers, mothers, and families across Barbados.
Media Contact:
Ronelle King
Project Manager
Redefining Masculinities
Email: Redefiningmasc@gmail.com | info@lifeinleggings.org
Website: www.lifeinleggings.org
Phone: +1 (246) 830-9574
About Redefining Masculinities
Redefining Masculinities is an initiative of Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-Based Violence (Registered Charity #1602) that is committed to challenging restrictive gender norms, promoting positive masculinity, and advocating for policies that support gender equality and family well-being in Barbados and the Caribbean.
Its goal is to end male-perpetrated gender-based violence and create a gender-just region by working with men and boys to transform Caribbean masculinities. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, Redefining Masculinities fosters a culture where men and boys are empowered to embrace healthier expressions of masculinity and play active, equitable roles in their families and communities.
Life In Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence 