A new study found that most fathers (65 percent) believe that moms and dads should share equally in the responsibility of raising children, but only three in 10 fathers say they actually carry half the load. Researchers also found that men, echoing the refrain of many women in the 1980s, believe that they can have it all, with 77 percent wanting to spend more time with their children and 76 percent seeking greater responsibility at work.
"Balancing work and family is not just a woman's issue," said lead researcher Brad Harrington, executive director of Boston College's Center for Work and Family. "We see that fathers, too, need a family-supportive work environment when it comes to aligning work and family, and this has tangible benefits for their jobs and careers, and in turn for their organizations."
Breadwinner wives, take note! A surprising 53 percent of fathers studied said they'd be open to quitting their jobs if their spouse made enough to support the family. Of course, there's often a difference between what people say they'd do and their actions in that circumstance, Harrington said, but this finding suggests that any stigma associated with stay-at-home dads may be fading.
As I type this, my husband is supervising swim practice, after he picked up both of our little girls from school and child care. That's generally his routine on Tuesday afternoons, after driving (and coaching) for soccer practice on Mondays. So I certainly feel that he is an equal partner in shouldering half the child-rearing responsibility. What's your experience when it comes to dads sharing the burden of child care?
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