In the past, labour market institutions, public policies, and social norms reinforced traditional gender roles, especially in West Germany, but social policy reforms over the last decade have increased opportunities for parents. The new German family policy approach aims to provide parents and children with more time together by fostering a more equal partnership in the sharing of work and family life responsibilities (“Partne rschaftl ichke it'). In line with international best practice, the 2007 reform also led to an increase in the number of fathers taking leave.