Papa Global: How fathers love, teach and live today

James B. is allowed to take snapshots instead of shooting on Father's Day. Mission: Education. What values ​​will define fatherhood around the world in 2025? And what figures support these new ideals?

"She has your eyes..."..."I know...I know," was 007's final line in what was also the last spy film with Daniel Craig. He was referring to his daughter. It's clear that he had to step down so abruptly: The 007 job is simply not a good daddy position.

But hey: The man is actually still alive ( even Batman was recently spotted in Paris ). Here are the results of his Father's Day reconnaissance mission: Images of fathers in the North, East, South, and West:

🌌 North – Equality in the Northern Lights

Ideal earlier: reserved, dutiful, distant
Ideal today: present, cooperative, caring

In Scandinavia , fatherhood has long been more than just a family affair—it's a political agenda . Here, fathers aren't seen as a bonus to the family, but as equal pillars of everyday parenting. Fathers receive not only congratulations, but also clear responsibilities: changing diapers, carrying, playing, listening. And please, right from the start.

Sweden's system is built on equality. Families are entitled to 480 paid parental days – 90 of which are reserved exclusively for each parent. Fathers who don't take any parental leave are wasting family time. In Norway, fathers are entitled to 15 weeks. And this is accepted: two-thirds use their entire allotment or more.

But what really counts isn't the number of days—it's what happens during those days. The modern Scandinavian father knows the daycare schedule, reads bedtime stories, and has a bottle of milk at hand. He takes care of his children for granted. The message to his children is clear: I'm here. Always. Not just in the evenings, not just on weekends, but right in the middle of everyday life.

Various studies show that this works . Children of fathers who are present develop language and social skills faster. Mothers return to work more relaxed. And couples experience the first phase of family life more stable. In short: equality makes families stronger – and it starts with diapers.

🌅 East – Between respect and cuddle factor

Ideal in the past: authoritarian, aloof, traditional
Ideal today: committed, empathetic, willing to learn

In Asia, centuries-old values ​​still shape the image of fathers: they are respected figures, teachers, and moral compasses. But on the streets of Tokyo, Seoul, and Singapore, a quiet change is taking place. New generations of fathers are growing up here—and with them, a new ideal.

In Japan, for example, the "salaryman" was long considered a symbol of male duty: long workdays, short evenings, little contact with children. But in recent years, this picture has been changing. The government is helping out – with laws requiring companies to actively encourage fathers to take parental leave. The effect: More and more men are stepping out of the rat race, at least for a while. And many are returning changed.

The new ideal there is called "Ikumen" – the committed father . One who feeds, plays, and comforts. One who sees closeness not as a weakness, but as a strength. A similar picture emerges in South Korea: Fathers with baby carriers have long been a common sight in cities. Social media campaigns celebrate this – with selfies of cuddles and daycare adventures.

Yet despite all the progress, the cultural divide remains. The father is supposed to be a role model and a friend, teaching discipline—and simultaneously comforting. But therein lies the opportunity: In East Asia, a father image is emerging that redefines strength—not through authority, but through relationships.

🌞 South – proximity as a lifestyle

Ideal in the past: dominant, absent, patriarchal
Ideal today: approachable, protective, communal

Anyone who thinks that nurturing is a Western phenomenon hasn't met the Ba Aka of the Central African rainforest . Among this hunter-gatherer tribe, fathers are with their infants almost constantly (when not hunting). They carry them, soothe them, and sleep beside them . Closeness isn't a parenting strategy here—it's part of everyday life. And it shows: good fatherhood doesn't require a lot of possessions, but rather a lot of presence.

Movement is also noticeable in Latin America. For a long time, machismo dominated the male image: strong, silent, aloof. But this role model is crumbling. More and more fathers want to do things differently – and are doing so. Studies show that for many young Latinos today, nurturing is more important than dominance. They call it "caballerismo" – a masculinity that protects rather than controls.

The new image of fatherhood is evident in the little things: the dad who packs the school bag. The dad who dances, sings, and comforts. And is proud to do just that. In cities and rural areas, men are taking on more responsibility. And they enjoy it. Because family here isn't just the core unit—it's pride, a sense of belonging, and identity.

Politics are following suit. In Uruguay, paternity leave was recently doubled. In Chile, a law extending it to 30 days is about to be passed. These are still the first steps, but they follow a clear direction: closeness counts. And it starts with the father.

🌠 West – From breadwinner to relationship manager

Ideal in the past: caring, emotionally distant, authoritarian
Ideal today: empathetic, reflective, cooperative

In the US, Canada, and much of Europe, the image of fatherhood is changing more through images than through laws. On Instagram, "dadfluencers" show diaper changes, baby sling fails, and cuddle time with dark circles under their eyes. What once happened behind closed doors is now celebrated – publicly, emotionally, authentically.

This has consequences. Gentle parenting—raising children with calm, respect, and plenty of dialogue—is no longer a niche. More and more fathers see themselves as coaches rather than commanders. They explain rather than command. They talk about feelings rather than hide them. And they are willing to question themselves.

Of course, not everything is perfect. Many countries lack parental leave, care infrastructure, and social support. But the trend is in the right direction. In the US, for example, fathers today spend three times as much time with their children as they did in the 1960s. In Great Britain, daily father-child time has increased to over two hours since the 1970s.

The qualitative ideal? The father as a true partner. One who enjoys a relationship, who shares responsibility – in the household, with homework, with self-reflection. One who demonstrates that masculinity and caring are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary – they strengthen each other.

Conclusion

Once around the globe – and everywhere the same wind blows: The old father is history. The new father is present, emotional, responsible. But the path to this goal varies culturally: The North regulates care, the East balances tradition with closeness, the South lives relationships from the gut, and the West emotionalizes masculinity anew. Whether it's Nordic parental leave, Asian role consciousness, African closeness, or Western Instagram openness – everywhere a father image emerges that touches people. Because it strengthens children. Because it makes relationships fairer. And because it shows: Good fathers are not heroes. They are simply there – and that is heroic enough.