Stay-at-home dad
A stay-at-home dad (alternatively, full-time father, stay-at-home father, house dad) is a
In the late 20th century, the number of stay-at-home dads began gradually increasing especially in developed Western nations. The role of househusband became more socially acceptable by the 2000s, though the role is subject to many stereotypes, and men may have difficulties accessing parenting benefits, communities, and services targeted at mothers.[4] A 2014 report released by the Pew Research Center found two million men to be stay-at-home dads in the United States.[5] The stay-at-home dad was more regularly portrayed in the media by the 2000s, especially in the US.
Evolution of family roles
Pre-industrialization
In the colonial United States, the nuclear family was the most common family form.[1] Typical families consisted of five or more children initially; because of high infant mortality rates, only a few children survived adolescence.[1] Colonial families existed to serve six main functions: self-sufficient business, school, vocational institute, church, house of correction, and welfare institution.[6]
The first
Industrialization (1800–1900)
The Industrial Revolution led to extensive mechanization, resulting in a shift from home manufacturing to large-scale factory production. As this rapid transition took place, families lost many of their production functions. Instead, family members had to work outside the home to support their families.[3] As a result, husbands and wives began operating in separate spheres of activity. The husband became the "breadwinner" by going out and working, while the wife stayed home and took care of the family.[3]
Transition to modern family (1900–present)
The modern family is commonly thought to have originated in the 1830s: courtship became more open, marriages were often based on affection, and parents devoted more attention to children.[2] At the beginning of the 20th century, married couples began to emphasize the importance of sexual attraction and compatibility in their relationships. This led to more intimate and open relationships along with more adolescent freedom.[2] The transition of the family was influenced by the Great Depression, which forced many women into the workplace in order to compensate for lack of financial stability.[2] In 1932, a federal executive order stated that only one spouse could work for the federal government. This resulted in many women being forced to resign allowing their husbands to continue working.[8]
The 1950s saw a "
Increase in popularity in the 21st century
Stay-at-home dads have been seen in increasing numbers in Western culture, especially in Canada, the UK, and the United States since the late 20th century. In developed East Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea, this practice is less common.[12]
There are several reasons why some families feel that it would be more beneficial for the father to be the primary caregiver while the mother works outside the home. The decision to use a stay-at-home dad arrangement is most commonly due to economic reasons. At the same time, women are progressing into higher-paying jobs. There are now financial ramifications in deciding whether the mother or father should become the stay-at-home parent. In cases where the woman is the higher-paid parent, it makes more economic sense for her to continue to work while the man takes on the caregiver role.[13][14] It also makes sense at times the mother's job offers health benefits for the family whereas the father's does not.[13] It has also been shown that if the "pregnancy was jointly planned", the father is more likely to be involved.[15]
Many men are also remote workers.[13] In this regard, they contribute financially to the family while also acting as the primary caregiver of the family's children.[13] Differences in parents' schedules can also account for some of the stay-at-home dads. Sometimes the father works odd work shifts while the mother has a typical nine-to-five work schedule.[13]
Fixed gender roles began to become less prominent in the Western world starting in the late 20th century, allowing men to make their own choice of career without regard to traditional gender-based roles.[12] Some men who choose this role may do so because they enjoy being an active part of their children's lives, while in other families, the mother wants to pursue her career.[13] For example, of the 187 participants at Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women in the Business Summit, one-third of the women's husbands were stay-at-home dads.[16] Families vary widely in terms of how household chores are divided.[13] Some retired males who marry a younger woman decide to become stay-at-home dads while their wives work because they want a "second chance" to watch a child grow up in a second or third marriage.[16] Additionally, more career and lifestyle options are accepted and prevalent in Western society.[13] There are also fewer restrictions on what constitutes a family.[13]
Disadvantages
Depending on the country or region, a stay-at-home dad might find more or less
Still, many men struggle to find acceptance within the role of stay-at-home dad despite the many gains that have been made. Many worry about losing business skills and their "professional place in line".[16] There is a common misconception that stay-at-home dads cannot get a job and therefore must rewrite the typical family roles, forcing the wife into the workforce.[13]
One 2002 study by the American Heart Association suggested stay-at-home dads may face a higher risk of
The role of stay-at-home dad may be difficult for men who feel as though they had no option. It is hard for these men to adapt from being a financial provider in the family to being a
Advantages
For the child
There have been many studies done which suggest the importance of the
A study conducted by a United States child psychiatrist,
Additional studies show that during the first five years of a child's life, the father's role is more influential than the mother's in how the child learns to manage his or her body, navigate social circumstances, and play.
Robert Frank, a professor of
For the mother
The stay-at-home dad arrangement allows the mother to work without having to use a
For the father
A survey conducted by Minnesota's Department for Families and Children's Services shows that men consider childcare to be far more important than a paycheck. Of 600 dads surveyed, a majority said their most important role was to "show love and affection" to kids. "Safety and protection" came next, followed by "moral guidance", "taking time to play", and "teaching and encouraging". "Financial care" finished last. Many men are now becoming more involved in their children's lives, and, because of that, many men now have a better understanding of what life is like for their child growing up in modern society. Because fathers are immersed in their children's lives, many of the stereotypically "manly" attitudes and activities historically prescribed for children may be circumscribed due to a more gender-neutral parenting approach that focuses on promoting independence and emotional well-being. This allows children, especially male children, to grow up with a greater capacity for empathy and less rigidity in attitudes pertaining to gender roles than would perhaps be the case in more traditionally-structured households.[25]
Prevalence
Australia
Stay-at-home dads make up a very small portion of the Australian population, although this appears to be rapidly changing.[26] In 2003, 91 percent of fathers with children aged under 15 years were employed, with 85 percent employed full-time.[27] Because of this, there are few role models or resources that can help Australian fathers with the stay-at-home dad role.[28] The Australian Bureau of Statistics show that approximately 7 percent of two-parent families with children under the age of 14 have a father who is unemployed and a mother who works full-time. Stay-at-home dads in Australia have almost doubled over the past decade—from 57,900 to 106,000—and is expected to increase in the future.[29] Recent sociological studies have shown that men are dedicating more time and support to their children in comparison to the 19th century.[30] Until recently, the idea of a stay-at-home dad was far from mainstream; however, the rising demand for female work has influenced this statistic to rise.[31]
Canada
Over a 20-year period during the late 20th century, there was an increase in the number of
East Asia
Stay-at-home dads are not prevalent in East Asian countries, which generally have strict traditional gender roles. However, a survey conducted in 2008 in Japan suggested that nearly one-third of married men would accept the role.[34] The Japanese government passed a law in April 1992 allowing time off following the birth of a child for both male and female employees.[35] In 1996, 0.16 percent of Japanese fathers took time off of work to raise children.[35] In South Korea, about 5,000 men were stay-at-home dads in 2007.[36] Even so, stay-at-home dads face discrimination from stay-at-home mothers, and are often ostracized.[36]
China
Beginning in the 2000s, the stay-at-home dad began to emerge as a role in China, though some remain uncomfortable with the way the role changes traditional family dynamics.[37] Customs in China suggest that men must be the heads of their households. Stereotyping is an issue for stay-at-home dads, who sometimes prefer not to tell others about their family arrangement.[37] Traditional ideas promote criticism of "woman-like" men, and many[who?] feel that they would face humiliation and criticism for being stay-at-home dads. Others[who?] suppose they would be looked at as having a wife that is "too strong".[37]
North Korea
Until around 1990, the
United Kingdom
According to a 2022 article, 105,000 British men are stay-at-home dads.[40]
United States
In 2008, an estimated 140,000 married fathers worked in the home as their children's primary caregivers while their wives worked outside the home to provide for the family. This number was less than the previous two years, according to the US Census Bureau.
See also
- Double burden
- Father's rights
- Housewife
- Masculism
- Nursing father
- Paternal bond
- Parental leave
- Sociology of the family § Sociology of fatherhood
References
- ^ a b c Goode, W. J. (1963). World revolution and family patterns. New York: Free Press. p. 60.
- ^ a b c d Burgess, E. (1963). The family from institution to companionship. New York: American Book Company. p. 38.
- ^ a b c Skolnick, A. (1991). Embattled paradise: The American family in an age of uncertainty. New York: Basic Books. p. 93.
- ^ Andrea Doucet, 2006. Do Men Mother? Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
- ^ "Statistics on Stay-At-Home Dads". National At-Home Dad Network. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
- ^ Demos, J. (1970). A little commonwealth: Family life in Plymouth colony. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 24.
- ^ a b Gutman, H. (1983). Persistent myths about the Afro-American family. New York: St. Martin's. p. 460.
- ^ Milkman, R. (1976). Women's work and the economic crisis: Some lessons from the Great Depression. p. 73.
- ^ Banner, L. (1984). Women in modern America: a brief history. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. p. 77.
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- ISBN 067003407X.
- ^ a b c d "Connect for Kids". Archived from the original on 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gill, Libby (2001). Stay-At-Home Dads: The Essential Guide to Creating the New Family. New York: Penguin Group.
- ^ Parker-Pope, Tara (18 May 2018). "Working Women Say Their Marriage Is Richer For It". The New York Times.
- ^ Cowan, Carolyn Pape, et al. "Encouraging strong relationships between fathers and children." Working Strategies 8.4 (2005): 2.
- ^ a b c d e Benokraitis, Nijole V. Marriages & Families: Changes, Choices and Constraints. New Jersey: Pearson Educations Inc., 2008
- ^ a b "The Stay At Home Dad Oasis - Resources, Information, Connections, and Community for involved dads". AtHomeDad.org. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ Rowland, Rhonda (2002-04-25). "Beyond tantrum control: Stay-at-home dads face health risks". CNN. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ "Kyle Pruett Talks About Fatherhood | SparkAction". www.sparkaction.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
- ^ a b c Pruett, Kyle D. Fatherneed. Michigan: Free Press, 2000.
- ^ Frank, Robert A. "The Role of the Primary Caregiving Father." (1995).
- ^ Lamb, Michael E., ed. The role of the father in child development. John Wiley & Sons, 2004.
- ^ Frank, Robert. The Role of the Primary Caregiving Father. Loyola University of Chicago, 1995.
- ^ a b c d Tucker, Patrick. "Stay At Home Dad's." The Futurist Sept. 2005: 12-13.
- ^ Braiker, B., Kuchment, A., & Dy, C. (2007, October 8). Just Don't Call Me Mr. Mom. Newsweek, 150(15), 52-55. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from Academic Search Premier database.
- ^ Walsh, Liz (2013-08-28). "Stay-at-home dad numbers almost doubled in last decade, Australian Bureau Statistics data show". The Adelaide Advertisor. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- ^ Statistics, c=AU; o=Commonwealth of Australia; ou=Australian Bureau of (2006-07-20). "Chapter - Fathers' Work and Family Balance". www.abs.gov.au.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Vernon, David. "Stay at Home Dad Struggles with Empathy. Naturalparenting.com 29 July 2009.
- ^ Walsh, Liz (28 March 2013). "Stay-at-home dad numbers almost doubled in last decade, Australian Bureau Statistics data show". The Advertiser.
- S2CID 143399364.
- ^ "Stay home dads". www.huggies.com.au. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
- ^ a b c d e f Marshall, Katherine. "Stay-at-Home Dads"=Perspectives Spring, 1999: 9-15.
- ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics (2016-09-29). "Changing profile of stay-at-home parents". www150.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kato, Mariko (Jan 14, 2009). "Househusband not a bad gig, one-third of men say". Japan Times. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ a b Mutsumi, Ota (1999). "Dad Takes Child-care Leave". Japan Quarterly. 46 (1): 83–89.
- ^ a b "She brings home bacon, he cooks it". JoongAng Daily. November 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ a b c Full-time Househusband Challenges China's Traditional Family Dynamics. 21 July 2006. People's Daily Online. 29 July 2009
- ^ "a Chinese-English translation web (译言网):Will Chinese women rule the world?". yeeyan.org. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^ wrote by Andrei Lankov (a professor in South Korea national University) in a Chinese-English Translate Web (cuyoo.com):Pyongyang’s Women Wear The Pants Archived 2014-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b c "US Census Press Releases". Census.gov. Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ Shaver, Katherine (2007-06-17). "Stay-at-Home Dads Forge New Identities, Roles". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
Further reading
- ISSN 1464-3545. (Working paper).