Full Time Dads

Mr. Mom is dead.  In his place, research shows, is emerging a new model of at-home fatherhood that puts a distinctly masculine stamp on child-rearing and home life.

At-home dads aren't trying to be perfect moms, says a recent study in the Journal of Consumer Research. Instead, they take pride in letting their children take more risks on the playground, compared with their spouses. They tend to jettison daily routines in favor of spontaneous adventures with the kids. And many use technology or DIY skills to squeeze household budgets, or find shortcuts through projects and chores, says the study, based on interviews, observation of father-child outings and an analysis of thousands of pages of at-home dads' blogs and online commentary.

"Just as we saw a feminization of the workplace in the past few decades, with more emphasis on such skills as empathy and listening, we are seeing the opposite at home—a masculinization of domestic tasks and routines," says Gokcen Coskuner-Balli, an assistant professor of marketing at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and lead author of the study. "Many men are building this alternative model of home life that is outdoorsy, playful and more technology-oriented." 

  

Over the long term, having an involved father is linked in research to better self-control in children, less risky behavior and better grades, says Dr. Pruett, a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine.

  

Source: The Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2013

 

 Barbara A. McEwen: When Doing It All Won't Do: A Self-Coaching Guide for Career Women--Workbook Edition

 

 John G. Agno: Women and Time

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Comments

[Liz W.]

The fact that "a new model of at-home fatherhood that puts a distinctly masculine stamp on child-rearing and home life" is emerging is nothing but a good thing in my opinion. There rarely is one "right" way to do something and exposing our children to different ways of parenting will only increase their ability to see that there are often multiple correct ways to approach something.

In addition to the benefits of self control, less risky behavior, and better grades, I believe this could potentially contribute to better diversity consciousness and the ability to see and appreciate multiple perspectives in children raised in homes where moms and dads play equal but different roles.