Source #2 http://www.knoxnews.com/knoxville/life/happiness-loneliness-come-with-the-job-of-stayathome-dad_47626740
Source #3 http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/reasons-kids-should-never-be-left-alone-with-their-dads#.juwP1Rjae
Source #4 https://twitter.com/homedadnet
Source #5 “Mr. Mom” by Lonestar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY15vMpbjrw
Source # 6 http://news.discovery.com/history/videos/fathers-day-here-come-the-stay-at-home-dads-140613.htm
United States culture has made a
huge increase in the number of stay at home dads in the last decade. As with
every significant cultural shift, there is a stereotype, a single story that
comes with it. Media portrays “at home dads,” as they like to be called, as
out-of-work shmucks who’s parenting abilities amount to charcoal cakes and
melted crayons. As Americans, we have come to, willingly or not, accept some of
these stereotypes because of media like “Despicable Me” or “Mr. Mom” and a glut
of “Dad fail” memes and Buzzfeed articles.
“Mr.
Mom,” for example, is a song and movie combo portraying a dad who loses his job
and is forced into the role at home dad; and he really sucks at it. Firstly,
only about 1/3 of at home dads fall into the unemployed story. The majority chooses to stay home because
their wives either like to work, or make more money; it “works” for their
families (see source #1 and #6). Although the story and song are fictional, it also
skews the truth that men and women do and think differently and puts it in a
bad light. People begin to believe that different is bad and that only mom can
parent correctly. We can see that this opinion abounds from statistics showing
that only 8% of traditional families believe that men can parent just as well
as mothers (see source #6).
In
a Buzzfeed article entitled “24 Reasons Kids Should
Never Be Left Alone With Their Dads,” we can see memes of dads doing
unconventional things with their kids. People who read any number of the many
articles like this begin to believe that any dad might do the same types of
things. Because these practices are presented in the false light of stupidity,
society comes to the conclusion that a mother would never do such things, therefore,
dads should probably just go to work instead. Interestingly enough, most people
who come to understand the nature of the at-home-dad family applaud its success
and completeness (see source #2 and #4).
Wow, I hadn't thought of this before but it's true and it is such a huge problem! I really feel like it is such a terrible thing for society. It's true that you never know a family's situation and just because a mother has chosen to work and the father stays at home with the kids, it doesn't mean that he's lazy or couldn't find work! I feel like whenever we hear that we think, "oh...he must have lost his job...this must be so hard on them." Maybe this family chose what was best for them and that doesn't mean that man should be labeled as lazy and unsuccessful.
ReplyDeleteWow, I hadn't thought of this before but it's true and it is such a huge problem! I really feel like it is such a terrible thing for society. It's true that you never know a family's situation and just because a mother has chosen to work and the father stays at home with the kids, it doesn't mean that he's lazy or couldn't find work! I feel like whenever we hear that we think, "oh...he must have lost his job...this must be so hard on them." Maybe this family chose what was best for them and that doesn't mean that man should be labeled as lazy and unsuccessful.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I think society needs to catch up with the times on this issue. Sometimes moms can't stay home, or they are the only ones who can support a family. Dad's shouldn't get slack for stepping up into mom's role as much as mom steps into dads.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great single story that not many people pick up on. I think it's a very important perception to work on changing because I think it not only deters a lot of potential fathers from staying at home, but also knocks their self esteem and self confidence as a parent. Many mothers have just as many "fails" as the fathers, but it seems that only the fathers are the fails that are highlighted.
ReplyDeleteI love this single story. There are so many humorous memes and gifs and other things floating around the internet showing how dads have bad parenting techniques. But although they are funny, they definitely create a single story for stay at home dads. I know plenty of people who choose to have the dad stay at home, even though it isn't the conventional thing to do, and their kids love it! I don't know why the media thinks that dads are bad parents. I think that dads can raise children and take care of housework just as well as moms can.
ReplyDeleteTough topic to tackle in just a couple paragraphs. I agree with some of the points that you make and sometimes its the only option for the mom to work and the dad to stay home, however, there is a special role that only a mother can fill in the home. Growing up my mom was at home raising me and my 7 brothers and sisters and when i came home she was the first one to greet me. I cant imagine my dad fulfilling the role that my mother did in the same way. Call me old fashion but mothers have a role that can never be replaced by a man in raising kids and providing the love and care that only they can give. Im NOT saying that families cant be successful when a dad stays home instead of the mom, I am just saying that mothers have a special love at home that cant replaced.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a single story which has also been created within the LDS community. Sometimes we think that fathers are solely providers and mothers are created for the sole purpose of nurturing children. Creating a family requires a mutual effort on behalf of both parents. What happens in the home is a decision that should be made between husband and wife after much though and prayer. Each family is different. While we each have different roles in the home, there is overlap and we should confine ourselves to one-way thinking.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is a single story due to the LDS community favoring that men and women are equal in marriage. I don't think it matters whether men or women stay at home as long as they are happy and participate equally.
ReplyDelete