Dads are twice as likely as mums to think parenting is equal, while mums still carry most of the load

Many families aim for equal parenting, but new UK research suggests the reality still looks very different behind closed doors.

A report* from Parenting Out Loud, an organisation to support working dads and to help them be equal parents at home, and YouGov found mums are still carrying the bulk of childcare and household responsibilities, with knock-on effects for careers, finances and family wellbeing.

The findings arrive ahead of Equal Parenting Week, which begins on 27 April and calls for better paternity leave and more flexible working for all parents.

Mums and dads see parenting equality very differently

The survey of more than 2,000 parents found dads are more than twice as likely as mums to say they live in an equal-parenting household.

• 49% of dads said parenting is shared equally
• 21% of mums said the same
• 35% of families overall said they are on an equal footing

When asked who does most of the parenting duties, nearly three-quarters of mums said they do more than 60% of the load.

• 72% of mums said they handle more than 60% of parenting duties
• 15% of dads said they do more than 60%

The career cost is hitting mums hardest

The report found becoming a parent is far more likely to negatively affect mothers’ careers than fathers’.

• 53% of mums said their career had been negatively affected since becoming a parent
• 13% of dads said the same
• Nearly 1 in 8 mums said they had left paid work altogether

Negative impacts included reduced working hours or decreased responsibility at work.

Meanwhile, dads were more than twice as likely as mums to say their career continued to progress at the same rate, or faster, after becoming a parent.

• 24% of dads
• 11% of mums

Why dads can struggle too

The report says unequal parenting does not only affect mums. It argues many fathers want to be hands-on parents but still feel pushed into a traditional breadwinner role.

That can mean pressure to prioritise work over family life, potentially affecting relationships, life satisfaction and mental wellbeing.

Elliott Rae, founder of Parenting Out Loud and Equal Parenting Week, said the issue is bigger than what happens inside individual homes.

Dads want to be equal parents, they want to be involved parents today more than ever before. But this data shows a glaring difference between perceptions and reality of equal parenting in the UK.

He added: “But the blame is on the system, one that tells dads to provide and mums to care, rather than supporting the family to share the care in a way that works for them.”

What Equal Parenting Week is calling for?

Equal Parenting Week is a new national awareness campaign focused on challenging traditional caregiving roles and encouraging more balanced parenting at home and at work.

Campaigners are calling for:

• Improved paternity leave
• Flexible working for all parents
• Workplaces that better support active fatherhood

The week will end with a Push for Paternity Leave pram march to Parliament, where families will gather to highlight calls for change.

What the research means for families

For many parents, the findings may feel familiar. While expectations around fatherhood have shifted, practical support has not always kept pace.

For families trying to balance work, childcare and home life, the message from the report is clear, equal parenting often needs structural support, not just good intentions.

*The figures are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 9,438 UK adults aged 18+, including 2,017 parents or guardians of at least one child under 18. Fieldwork took place between 18 and 23 March 2026.