Diaper Daddies
Sociologist Andrea Doucet, a professor at Carleton University has conducted a study in which she interviewed more than 100 stay-at-home dads, to examine their attitude to their caregiver status. Apparently, all of them report "loving" the experience. They are part of the more than 100,000 dads in Canada who currently stay at home to act as the primary caregiver while their spouse goes out each day to bring home the bacon. Their numbers have jumped by more than a quarter in "only a few years", says Doucet. Her work was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to study the impact of this phenomenon on how the children cared for by stay-at-home dads fare, and how societal beliefs about these men may be changing. If you're interested in what she found, keep an eye out for her upcoming book, "Do Men Mother?"
Doucet feels that these men, who were viewed as workplace failures five years ago, are now accepted. She quotes as her basis for this statement the appearance of daddy-run playgroups and support circles. She says too that the children in such arrangements are doing well, and that "dads are just as capable as moms at nurturing". Once again, the media is responsible (see the entry below) for molding some of society's perception of these men. Think about the Eddie Murphy film "Daddy Daycare". IMDb gives the plot outline as follows: "Two men get laid off and have to become stay-at-home dads when they can't find jobs." (emphasis my own) How many films have you seen depicting the father as willingly staying at home to take on the caregiver role?
Maybe this trend is a good one. Maybe it's the sounding of the death knell for one more of the stereotypical expectations that have encumbered moms (and dads) for these many years. Maybe.
Doucet feels that these men, who were viewed as workplace failures five years ago, are now accepted. She quotes as her basis for this statement the appearance of daddy-run playgroups and support circles. She says too that the children in such arrangements are doing well, and that "dads are just as capable as moms at nurturing". Once again, the media is responsible (see the entry below) for molding some of society's perception of these men. Think about the Eddie Murphy film "Daddy Daycare". IMDb gives the plot outline as follows: "Two men get laid off and have to become stay-at-home dads when they can't find jobs." (emphasis my own) How many films have you seen depicting the father as willingly staying at home to take on the caregiver role?
Maybe this trend is a good one. Maybe it's the sounding of the death knell for one more of the stereotypical expectations that have encumbered moms (and dads) for these many years. Maybe.
1 Comments:
I think fathers are just as suitable -- or if your glass is half-empty, just as unsuitable -- for raising children at home. It's too bad our society no longer sees value in raising children. I think the formative years of a young child needs a parent at home -- or at the very least, closer proximity of child and parent. If we cared about the future, we'd have more workplaces with in house daycare, where parents aren't too far away, and they can join different activities during the child's day.
That of course, is my inexpert opinion.
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