GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 216
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
More and more fathers are taking a break from their careers so that they can stay home and take care of their children while their wives work. This is better for the family than having both parents work full-time.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
It seems increasingly common for fathers to take a break from their careers so as to look after the children and family while wives continue work. This essay completely agrees with the view expressed, and believes that paternity leave is a blessing for the family than having both parents work full-time.
To commence with, the benefits paternity leave derives are long-lasting. It offers fathers the opportunity to strengthen both emotional and spiritual bond with their children by spending quality time. Apart from this, a growing number of studies have revealed that paternity leave exerts beneficial impacts on a child later in life. The University of Oslo, for instance, found children whose fathers got time off showed an impressive performance at school. In addition, paternity leave yields positive cognitive and behavioural outcomes. To put it another way, fathers who have some time off work around childbirth, particularly those taking two or more weeks, are more likely to be engaged in childcare-related activities. This involvement, in turn, translates into positive behavioural and cognitive outcomes.
In the same token, paternity leave also benefits the wives. In simple words, when caring for their newborn baby, more support from the father can enhance the mother’s well-being. A case in point is postpartum depression. Many studies carried out in this field have revealed that the lack of paternal involvement in infant care can develop the intense symptoms of maternal depression. Getting some time off from work can encourage paternal support for the mother and active paternal involvement in child care, and therefore prevent postpartum depression. Apart from this, a career break for childcare also strengthens relationships between partners. When a father fervently supports his wife in childcare so that she can continue her job, it leads to forge a strong bond between them.
To recapitulate, a career break for child-rearing confers lasting benefits, not only to the rapport with their children but also to relationships between the parents. Therefore, fathers should take paternity leave around childbirth.