Fatherhood has undergone significant transformation in recent decades, shifting from the traditional role of the breadwinner to that of an active and caregiving father who is involved in a child's everyday life. These social changes have been accompanied by developments in parental legislation, which has undergone several important reforms. Following the 2023 amendments, fathers are entitled to 15 days of paternity leave, to be taken consecutively within the first three months of the child's life, and 160 days of parental leave, of which 60 days are non-transferable. The primary aim of these changes is to promote a more equal distribution of caregiving responsibilities and greater involvement of fathers in the early stages of a child's life. At the same time, new challenges have emerged, particularly in balancing private and professional life, as parents increasingly face the demanding task of reconciling work and family responsibilities. The aim of this master's thesis was to explore what the concept of active fatherhood means to parents. Specifically, it examined how parents perceive and understand paternity, maternity, and parental leave–whether as a formal entitlement or as an opportunity for active engagement in parenting and relationship-building with the child. Additionally, the study sought to assess whether the legislative changes have achieved the objectives set out in Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers. The theoretical part presents the concept of active fatherhood, its key determinants, and the development of the paternal role over time, with particular emphasis on the influence of parents on early childhood development. It further discusses the role of active fatherhood in promoting gender equality and the importance of legislation in supporting these processes. A separate section is devoted to the reconciliation of work and private life, while the concluding theoretical chapter analyzes Slovenian legislation, with a focus on parental and paternity leave. The empirical part outlines the methodological framework. The qualitative study, conducted between January and February 2026, included eight parents who had utilized parental or paternity leave following the 2023 legislative changes. Both fathers and mothers were included to gain a comprehensive understanding of active fatherhood and the division of caregiving roles from the perspective of both parents. A convenience, non-probability sample was used: initial participants were selected through personal contacts, and additional participants were recruited using the snowball sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, enabling an in-depth insight into parents' experiences, perceptions, and attitudes.
The findings indicate that parents primarily perceive their entitlements as an important opportunity for active involvement in family life. Active fatherhood is understood as significant for the child and encompasses physical and emotional presence, as well as participation in childcare. Although there are clear shifts toward greater parental involvement, certain traditional patterns persist in practice. Paternity leave emerges as a key factor facilitating fathers' early involvement in family life. The work environment also plays a cruical role, as employer support and flexible working arrangements ease the reconciliation of professional and family responsibilities. Participants generally assess the Slovenian legislative framework as well-developed and, in some respects, even more favourable compared to other countries, while also pointing to areas for improvement. Key recommendations include encouraging fathers to make greater use of the transferable portion of parental leave, improving access to information about parental rights, strengthening family-friendly work environments, and addressing societal stereotypes, with social work playing an important role in these efforts.
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