Ghent (Eurotoday): Activists from The Dad Shift are attaching toy babies to statues of famous men in the UK, including Thierry Henry and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to raise awareness about low paternity leave. Fathers receive only two weeks of paid leave at £184.03 per week, the lowest in Europe.
In Ghent, activists placed baby carriers and dolls on five statues of famous men to raise awareness about parenting inequality on International Men’s Day. They are asking for equal maternity leave for mothers, fathers, and other caregivers. Clara Calis from the ZUkant women’s group stated that society still follows outdated ideas from the 1950s, with strong stereotypes about parenting roles. They aim to adopt a system similar to that in Scandinavian countries.
How are activists in Ghent using statues to advocate for equal parental leave?
According to Thomas Pieters from the ABVV union, the law should change because mothers get 55 days of maternity leave, while fathers only get 20 days. This shows that women are seen as the main caregivers. He points out that many fathers don’t take leave due to money concerns. Activists want to inspire the government to create a fairer system for both parents, as they feel current plans are not good for women.
Activists have chosen statues of men known for their power and many children, but they believe these men are mostly remembered for their status, not their parenting. One statue stands out: comedian Romain Deconinck, who doesn’t have kids but received a baby carrier. This statue is placed in a busy area, and there’s a QR code for passers-by to scan and learn more about the activists’ message.
Comments
4 responses to “Activists in Ghent Draw Attention to Parenting Inequality by Placing Baby Carriers on Statues of Famous Men”
-
Well, isn’t this a groundbreaking initiative? Nothing says “let’s tackle gender inequality in parenting” quite like adorning statues of men with baby carriers—because clearly, the key to societal change lies in accessorizing our historical figures. I mean, why bother with actual policy changes when you can just dress up the past while the present continues to run amok? Typical Ghent: making parenting inequality look chic, one statue at a time!
-
Oh, splendid move by the activists in Ghent—because nothing screams “parenting equality” quite like draping baby carriers over statues of men who’ve been dead for centuries. One can only imagine the existential crisis these noble figures must be experiencing—caught between their heroic legacies and the pressing need for a good nappy change. Perhaps next, we’ll see mothers in high heels marching down cobbled streets, showing us all how to juggle childcare and a cheeky glass of frosé!
-
Ah, nothing quite screams “progressive activism” like draping baby carriers on the statues of our beloved male icons in Ghent—because clearly, nothing says “let’s address parenting inequality” like a toddler’s accessory on the neck of a long-dead philosopher. It’s a brilliant strategy; after all, who wouldn’t want to ponder the intricacies of child-rearing while admiring a marble bust? Bravo, darling, truly avant-garde!
-
Ah, nothing like a bit of avant-garde parenting commentary to make the statues of Ghent’s finest feel a tad more… maternal. I suppose it’s only fair that these illustrious gentlemen, who presumably never changed a nappy in their lives, now sport some stylish baby carriers—because, you know, nothing screams equality quite like a stone figure bearing the weight of modern parenting woes. One can only hope they’re also considering diaper duty while they’re at it—talk about a real commitment to the cause!
Last News
August 1, 1834: The British Empire Abolishes Slavery, Granting Freedom to 770,000 People
A pivotal humanitarian act in global history occurred on August 1, 1834, when the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, enacted by the British Parliament the year before, was officially implemented. This landmark action granted freedom to approximately 770,280 colonial slaves, permanently altering the world’s economic and social landscape.
The Act covered most British Empire territories, including s
Helicopters Collide, Killing 2, Amid Fires and Fear in Greece
The fire around Porto Germeno on the Gulf of Corinth, approximately 60 kilometers northwest of Athens, had diminished by Saturday. However, strong winds up to 130 kilometers per hour pushed the flames over a mountain to the south, reaching Veniza, closer to t
Mark Van Bommel Appointed as Belgium National Team Head Coach
Brussels, July 24 Eurotoday Newspaper — Belgium national team news is dominated by the appointment of Mark van Bommel as the new head coach of the Red Devils. The Royal Belgian Football Association confirmed that the former Netherlands international will replace Rudi Garcia after the federation chose not to extend Garcia’s contract following Belgium’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. Van Bommel has
Isaac Hammouch-Ceuta: les questions sans réponse derrière l’exode de milliers de Marocains
Trump Calls Off Strikes on Iran, Announces Imminent Deal
Iran has yet to respond to Trump’s announcement or confirm
Europe’s energy supply "must become more independent," says EESC
The body representing civil society at EU level has called for a “comprehensive storage strategy.”
The demand comes with the European energy system facing deep geopolitical, economic and social transformation.
Now, the Brussels based European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) argues, in a newly adopted opinion, that the EU now needs a “clear, common plan” for energy storage, something that is
June 19, 1862: U.S. Congress Abolishes Slavery
The act declared that slavery or involuntary servitude would not exist in any U.S. territories, except as punishment for a crime.
This action
Hungary Confronts Energy Crisis with Paks Nuclear Plant Shutdown Due to Drought, PM Reports
The Soviet-built Paks facility remains the backbone of the country’s power system. The loss of output has triggered national energy-saving measures and offers of support from regional neighbors.
A prolonged outage would cripple Hungary’s electrici
ECR Claims Ceuta Crisis Stems from "Years of Weakness"
Some MEPs say the renewed migration crisis in Ceuta “once again demonstrates the consequences of migration policies that send the wrong signals.”
The claim, by the ECR group in the EU parliament, comes as 60,000 people are locally estimated to have crossed into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in the last 24 hours.
It appears that this is part of an apparent attempt to ove
Leave a Reply