Community Criticizes Stay at Home Dads

Community Criticizes Stay at Home Dads

Although, the number of stay at home dads is increasing day by day, yet they all seem to be fighting for acceptance in the community. They are seen without an identity and are looked upon with inferiority as if being ‘Mr Mum’ is a shame. And to make matters worse they are also being isolated by other community men.

Though the “stay at home dads” phenomenon is not very common, yet there is a significant increase in the population of fathers who opt to stay at home. In 1983 the percentage was 2.7 per cent and it rose to 6.6 per cent in 2003.

Dr Richard Fletcher, the leader of the Father and Families research program at the University of Newcastle expects the number of such fathers to increase more in the coming years. These are modern times and many families are not doing things the old fashioned way anymore. He believes that community values are becoming revolutionized. They are not the same as they were 20 years ago when staying home and taking care of the children was only a woman’s job.  But even when the overall approach has changed, the community is still not ready for fathers who stay at home full time.  The comments they get from fellow men is that they are ‘playing mum’ as if they do not see the father as a ‘real parent’.

George Ivanoff, a children’s writer and stay at home dad from Melbourne absolutely loves the fact that he stays at home to take care of his two daughters Nykita 8 and Alexandra 2 and watch them grow up. However, he admits that he had to face remarks and criticism from the community. He was perceived as the one who didn’t have any other option and had taken up the ‘easy job’.

According to Deborah Wilmore, a researcher at the University of Sydney, stay at home fathers initially were usually embarrassed because of the part they played in the family but many were passionate about their roles and responsibilities. She says that once they develop a special relationship and understanding with the children, it boosts their self-esteem to new levels.

Image by kevinq2000

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