I read an article in Thursday's New York Times about strategies on how dads can stay connected to the workforce while at home so it will be easier for them to return to work. The article left me questioning why is it harder for men to return to work than it is for women.
Men cutting back on work or deciding to stay home for the sake of family life is still, in the year 2008, uncharted territory. Society tells us that men are meant to go out and bring home the bacon. Society just doesn't get why men make the decision to leave a budding career to become full time nurturers. Why would a man want to take time away from the traditional hunter role. This shouldn't be so. Wood tells us that "From infancy on, we are encouraged to learn how to embody the gender that society prescribes for us"(p.24). Well, there it is, we look at family and home issues such as cooking, cleaning, and raising the children as women's concerns. We don't acknowledge that men have the same kinds of concerns about their families. They just may want to change diapers, prepare nutritious meals, and make boo-boos feel better. But they are not suppose to. They are suppose to be strong, ambitious, successful and the breadwinner. Not nurturing or emotional and certainly not a homemaker.
When men disconnect from all the masculinity stereotypes they are questioned about being a "real" man. Stay-at-home-dad's returning to the workforce tend to be looked at as not having the kind of drive or seriousness of purpose that is needed in leadership. Society has unwritten rules for dads that decide that their family is more important than corporate America.
Men face more prejudice when they decide to return to the workplace than women do because society is more accepting of moms making such a choice as to staying home and being the caregiver.
The number of stay-at-home-dads still pales in comparison to women who make that choice, but the numbers are growing. Nearly 160,000 men stay home with their children today(US Census). So I say Kudos to the men breaking out of societies normal role.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL!!!!
2 comments:
me are Dad’s. They have made the choice to stay with their children. It is beautiful to see it. They are as involved as mothers. Perhaps need a little more training in a couple things. However, they have no support when it comes to play dates and gatherings together with other moms’. I have tried my best to do it but you can always encounter attitudes from their wives. It is understandable that having mix sex play dates could create a whole other issue in these subjects. I’m hopeful that someday it could be a normal standard for the benefit of the children.
It is definitely time for equality for men here. Why should they be look down up if they choose to stay home! We should cheer them on! And, not just in the home but in the workplace. Have you ever know a men telling his prospective employer in a job interview that the lap in his resume is due to staying home and raising the kids? Probably not, they wouldn't be taken seriously... what a shame!
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