Abstract

In March of 2020, Canada, along with the rest of the world, declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency and responded with society-wide lockdowns, granting exceptions only for essential workers. Canadians across all demographic categories were significantly impacted, and many parents of children under 18 faced the difficult task of caring for their children while simultaneously meeting their work obligations. Using novel in-depth interview data from 30 Canadian parents (in 15 couples) collected between April 2022 and May 2023, I explore three main changes to family life resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic: expanded family-friendly work practices, increased time with nuclear family members, and fathers' increased contributions to childcare. My work builds on previous research in two important ways. First, it utilizes qualitative data to deepen our understanding of these early shifts; and second, it provides evidence for the durability (or lack thereof) of family changes beyond the initial lockdown stage of the pandemic and into the 'new normal.' With this approach, I find that family life changed dramatically during the pandemic and some of these changes were durable while others were not.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Sociology

Rights

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