The gap in gender equality occasionally works both ways, with men who choose the family life reporting they are treated differently at work.

Recent studies from the University of Toronto have found women without children and men who take on care-giving roles are treated worse at work than those who conform to ‘normal’ roles. Men have reported being told they were “not man enough”, socially excluded, generally put-down and had their competence and ability questioned. The study found men and women who challenged social expectations suffered at work.

Lead author of the study from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, Jennifer Berdahl says; “It is disturbing because it’s discouraging workers from using leaves and flexible work policies if they’re worried their status in the workplace is going to suffer as a result... this kind of behaviour leads to discouragement at work, stress brought into the home and sometimes mental health problems and depressions if it gets bad enough.”

Kerryn Fewster, co-director of Australian consultancy Change2020, expresses similar concerns; “I do think policy and organisations are doing a good job around encouraging equity for time off to rear kids, but it needs to be as easy for the men to come back [to work] as it is for the females.”

“Working is what we do, a lot of people enjoy it, a lot of others just do it to pay the bills. Either way, ultimately there’s something more, and that might be around your family or caring for your parents, or whatever it might be,” Ms Fewster added.

The completed study is due to be published soon, more information is available from the Rotman School.