Gender inequality in employment and caregiving remains persistent despite substantial gains in women’s education and labor force participation. This talk examines how work-family policies and institutional structures shape these inequalities across national contexts, drawing on data from Australia, South Korea, Germany, and the United States. I first examine parental leave policies, focusing on how fathers’ leave-taking and policy design influence mothers’ employment trajectories, career continuity, and well-being in Australia, South Korea, and Germany. I then turn to the United States, where fragmented leave policies, unequal access, and limited awareness and knowledge of available rights and benefits constrain policy use, particularly among lower-income workers. I consider how governments, employers, and labor unions can improve access to and knowledge of leave entitlements. The talk concludes by identifying how policy design and implementation can better promote gender equality across diverse families.