A coalition of 15 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of mothers and fathers worldwide, led by Mothers in Science and including major international charities such as Pregnant Then Screwed (UK), SCWIST (Canada) and AWIS (US), has come together to amplify the visibility of fathers in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) who are redefining fatherhood by challenging outdated gender norms–and to call for equity and inclusion of caregivers within the sector and beyond.
By providing positive role models of fatherhood and a message of solidarity, the Fathers Who Care (FWC) campaign aims to bridge the growing divide between men and women and unite all caregivers, regardless of gender, in advocating for a society where caregiving is valued and recognized as a shared responsibility–at home, in the workplace, and across society.
“Caregiving must be seen as a shared responsibility, not only at home but also in the workplace and across society, and we need more fathers and institutional leaders to speak up and show up”, said Dr. Isabel Torres, co-founder/CEO of Mothers in Science and a mother of four. “Gender equality benefits everyone, and it starts with changing how we value care.”
FWC campaign calls out the urgent need for structural and societal change
The campaign includes several initiatives (see details below), including a video and a series of #SciDadJourneys featuring fathers in STEMM sharing their challenges and experiences, a toolkit with actionable steps for men seeking to strengthen their roles as caregivers and allies, and a collection of previously unpublished testimonials of workplace stigma experienced by fathers in STEMM collected in an international survey conducted by Mothers in Science.
On June 19 at 10:30 ET, the campaign will also host an online panel discussion with prominent fathers in STEMM (details and registration here), offering an open, cross-disciplinary conversation on fatherhood, allyship and the need for structural change in academic and scientific institutions.
Launched on Father’s Day, the campaign highlights the urgent need for greater male participation in caregiving and in gender equality conversations, particularly within STEMM, where women remain vastly underrepresented, largely due to the motherhood penalty, as growing research shows.
An international survey conducted by Mothers in Science and partners reveals that 34% of mothers and 12% of fathers globally leave full-time STEMM employment after becoming parents, with significant variation across countries driven by differences in cultural norms and family policies.
Despite progress, caregiving is still largely seen as a woman’s responsibility, leaving the role of fathers in caregiving often invisible or undervalued in both institutional structures and societal narratives. The FWC campaign challenges these assumptions, calling on men in STEMM to model shared caregiving and allyship, challenge outdated norms, and push for structural change.
“The campaign challenges the obsolete idea that career and caregiving are incompatible, and instead aims to normalize fathers as co-parents, not helpers; as emotionally present, not stoic; and as advocates for change, not passive bystanders,” said Dr Torres.
Systemic barriers faced by fathers: FWC campaign breaks the silence
The FWC campaign will also raise awareness of the systemic barriers that continue to prevent men from fully participating in caregiving, such as workplace stigma, policy gaps, and cultural resistance. Anonymous testimonials of workplace bias and stigma experienced by fathers, collected in the Mothers in Science survey, will be shared on social media throughout the launch week to raise awareness. A 40-year-old father in STEMM from Australia reported:
"I was actively denied opportunities from supervisors to take on students and projects due to my responsibilities as a carer to my children. I lost my job when I made a complaint about these things even though denying me these opportunities due to my circumstances is illegal."
40-year-old postdoctoral researcher, Australia, father of two.
This campaign, endorsed by major nonprofits across the world including AWIS, SCWIST, Pregnant Then Screwed and the Fatherhood Institute, builds on the success of previous initiatives led by Mothers in Science, including their landmark Action Plan for Research Funding Agencies, and furthers their global mission to support mothers in STEMM and promote caregiver inclusion through research, advocacy, and international collaboration. Their work has garnered media attention and their research findings have been shared at numerous conferences and events around the world.
For interviews or more information, contact:
Dr Isabel Torres, co-founder and CEO, Mothers in Science
Email: isabel.torres@mothersinscience.com
About Mothers in Science
Mothers in Science (mothersinscience.com) is an international non-profit organization that advocates for mothers in STEMM and develops evidence-based solutions to promote workplace equity and the inclusion of caregivers. We create resources to support, empower, and increase the visibility of caregivers in STEMM, and we leverage research, advocacy, and international collaboration to build a more equitable and inclusive STEMM sector, and society, where caregiving is recognized not as a burden, but as a shared and celebrated responsibility.
Some of the organizations endorsing the Fathers Who Care campaign*:
*complete list published on campaign launch (June 16, 9:00 AM ET) at www.mothersinscience.com/dads
AWIS- Association for Women in Science (US)
IAMAS- International Association of Maternal Action + Scholarship (US)
INWES- International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (global)
SCWIST- Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (Canada)
FEM- Female Empowerment University Maastricht (Netherlands)
Parent in Science (Brazil)
AMIT- Asociación de mujeres investigadoras y tecnólogas (Spain)
DANWISE- Danish Society for Women in Science (Denmark)
Falling Walls - Falling Walls Foundation (Global)
STEM4ALL - STEM4ALL is a joint platform by UNDP and UNICEF (Europe, Asia, and the Pacific)
Women in STEMM Australia - Women in STEMM Australia
LNVH- Dutch Network of Women Professors (Netherlands)
Fatherhood Institute (United Kingdom)
Pregnant Then Screwed (United Kingdom)
DadsRock (United Kingdom)
Campaign initiatives:
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An online panel discussion (June 19th 10:30 ET | 16:30 CET) with four renowned fathers in STEMM (click here for more details and to register) to start open and honest conversations about the challenges facing fathers, allyship, and the need for structural change in academic and scientific institutions.
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A “Toolkit for Allies” with practical guidelines for men on how to advocate for caregiver inclusion and advance gender equality in their personal and professional lives (with links to organizations and resources).
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A collection of written testimonials (#SciDadJourneys) from fathers in STEMM sharing their journeys, challenges, and advice for others.
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A video with testimonials from fathers in STEMM sharing their experiences and feelings about balancing caregiving and career, and what it means for them to be an involved father and equal partner.
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A TikTok/Instagram Reels video showcasing positive role models of involved fathers, to normalize caregiving and shared emotional responsibility.
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A collection of anonymous testimonials of workplace bias and stigma experienced by fathers in STEMM (unpublished data from Mothers in Science survey).
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A webpage on the Mothers in Science website gathering all these resources, testimonials, presenting the campaign partners and a list of external organizations and resources.
Subject of Research
Not applicable