EMiNC | Portugal

In Portugal, caregiving is deeply rooted in traditional gender roles, with care often perceived as exclusively a woman’s responsibility. Societal expectations discourage men from taking paternity leave, with only a small percentage of fathers utilizing the up to 28 days currently available. Rigid notions of masculinity, where men are expected to avoid showing vulnerability, further hinder fathers from openly sharing emotions or fully embracing nurturing roles.

At the same time, evidence suggests that men are increasingly willing to participate in caregiving, though their efforts often fall short of equal sharing. Cultural resistance persists, requiring significant shifts in societal attitudes. To address this, efforts are underway to build capacity within health and education sectors, focusing on pre- and in-service training to engage fathers from the earliest stages of their children’s lives, including integration of father-inclusive content into BA and MA-level programs and challenging entrenched gender stereotypes. This foundational work aims to create a supportive environment where caregiving is viewed as a shared responsibility, fostering greater equity within families and communities.

This page will be regularly updated with news and resources related to the EMiNC initiative in Portugal.

=> Read the latest update from the EMiNC countries.