Đề thi thử tốt nghiệp THPT 2027 môn Tiếng Anh — Đề ôn luyện số 12

When Tuan's daughter was born last year, he did something that surprised many of his colleagues: he took two months off work to look after her. "Some people joked that I was going on holiday," he says. "They soon changed their minds when they saw how tired I looked."

Tuan is part of a growing trend. In a number of countries, governments now offer paid leave that is reserved for fathers, and the share of men who take it has risen steadily. Supporters argue that such policies benefit the whole family. Mothers can return to work sooner if they wish, and fathers who care for a baby in its first months often remain more closely involved in their children's lives for years afterwards.

There are benefits for society, too. When only women take long breaks from work after having children, employers may, consciously or not, see young women as a riskier choice than young men when hiring or promoting staff. If parenting is shared more equally, this bias becomes harder to justify, and the gap in pay between men and women may begin to narrow.

Yet many fathers still hesitate to take the leave they are entitled to. Some worry about falling behind at work or being seen as less committed. Others simply cannot afford it, since in many places leave is paid at only a fraction of a normal salary. Cultural expectations play a part as well: in families where looking after children has always been seen as "women's work", a father at home with a baby may face raised eyebrows from relatives and neighbours.

Experts say that changing attitudes takes time, and that the example set by managers and well-known figures can make a real difference. Tuan, for his part, has no regrets. "I missed a few meetings," he says, "but I didn't miss my daughter's first smile."