Leave of absence

Erika Oliva, left, and her husband Benjamin Lopez's family gather inside their apartment in the southern neighborhood of Vallecas, in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 15, 2020. 

Can Spain’s new paternity leave law address entrenched gender roles?

Lifestyle & Belief

Starting this year, fathers in Spain have four months of federal mandated paid leave — the same amount of time mothers have had for years. While that puts Spain ahead of many European countries, some critics say the law won’t do much to change gender norms and roles.

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