New Perspectives on Fatherhood: Exhibition Series "Fathers at the Lower Rhine"
In a society that is constantly evolving, it is crucial to question traditional gender roles and create space for new, diverse life designs. This is precisely the goal of the exhibition series "Fathers at the Lower Rhine" by the Gender Equality Office of Rhine-Waal University, which not only addresses private caregiving but also makes it visible in various locations.
Six double-sided displays cover topics related to fatherhood, parental leave, and the balance between private life and career. The eleven portraits, developed by students of Rhine-Waal University, illustrate the diversity of fatherhood and aim to encourage questioning of traditional gender roles.
This initiative is not only about making fathers visible but also about recognizing and valuing unpaid caregiving work and creating conditions that enable dedicated fatherhood within the family, in the workplace, and in society.
Studies show that, on average, men spend just under 21 hours and women nearly 30 hours per week on unpaid caregiving work. However, only 21 percent of fathers state that they are willing to take on about half of the caregiving responsibilities. This shows a discrepancy between desire and reality.
The exhibition series strives to establish a new and nuanced image of fathers at the Lower Rhine and in the public sphere. The traditional image of fatherhood often does not align with the diverse life designs of men and family models today.
A collaborative project like "Fathers at the Lower Rhine" makes an important contribution to equalizing paid and unpaid caregiving work for women and men. It promotes a family-oriented corporate culture and contributes to securing skilled labour. At the same time, it is important that unpaid work can be performed alongside paid employment.
The exhibition series will be ceremoniously opened on April 10, 2024, at 5 p.m. on the Kamp-Lintfort campus. Afterwards, the father portraits will be exhibited for about a year at various locations in the Lower Rhine region, including regional media libraries and the Kleve City Hall. All visitors are invited to reflect on their ideas of family, career, and caregiving, to be inspired, and to engage in dialogue.
The exhibition series is a collaborative project involving students, the Gender Equality Office of Rhine-Waal University, the Gender Equality Offices of the cities of Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort, and the Women and Work Advisory Office of the Wesel District. Supported and funded by the support associations (Förderverein) of Rhine-Waal University.
