GB News commentator Zoe Grunewald has stated that mothers "should be given a choice" after a new UCL study revealed persistent gender roles in modern parenting.
The study, published in the Journal of Family Studies, found that traditional gender roles persist in parental duties, with women typically leading conversations about childcare arrangements.
Zoe Grunewald told GB News: "I think it's absolutely vital that women are given the opportunity to decide what they want to do. So if women want to stay at home and look after their kids, they should be able to do that.
"Equally, if a woman wants to go back to work as soon as she can, I think she should be able to do that too.
Zoe Grunewald said "women should be able to decide"
GB News
"I think what is really important is that we have structures in place in the workplace and outside of it, to make sure that parents can make that decision.
"In some families, it might be that it makes sense for the mum to stay at home, and it might be that it makes sense for the husband to go back to work.
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"But it's not like that in every scenario. I think, especially if you're in a couple where the woman earns more money and perhaps, you know, wants to take advantage of that and go back to work.
"Then we should have a system in place that allows that. I mean, couples shouldn't feel a financial penalty because women are still expected to do most of the child rearing."
Dr Clare Stovell of UCL's Faculty of Education & Society interviewed 25 professional couples in the UK during 2017-2018 for the research.
The study revealed that couples rarely discussed or negotiated important decisions about work and family after becoming parents.
Women typically led conversations about childcare options and adjusting their own work patterns, while men's work schedules remained largely undiscussed.
The research identified four key factors behind this trend, including traditional gender role expectations and couples not recognising the risk of falling into conventional patterns.
One father interviewed for the study expressed hesitation about discussing leave-sharing: "So having that conversation with a mother-to-be who's pregnant as well, it's kind of like, I wouldn't want to go there!"
Another father acknowledged his partner's leading role: "I think to be honest she was much more proactive than me, thinking ahead to how things might work out."
A study has revealed traditional gender roles remain in place
PA
The study also found that couples often made decisions based on assumptions about financial viability rather than calculating various options.
GB News commentator Gavin Rice challenged the study's findings, questioning their relevance to many modern families.
He argued that most couples he knows require both partners to work full-time to maintain their lifestyle.
"They're both having to work full time, longer hours than they perhaps want to because otherwise they simply just can't afford to live," he said.
Rice suggested the study might be examining what he called "a luxury problem."
