Stay-at-home Dads

Stay-at-home dads have become more common in recent years. With this increase, I was interested in how being a stay-at-home dad affected these men’s views of masculinity and gender norms. I was also interested in how taking on the role of a stay-at-home dad is perceived by the man’s friends and family. In my research I discovered, through reading multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, that being a stay-at-home dad results in men taking on a new form of masculinity, called caring masculinity. Caring masculinity is characterized by being more emotionally expressive and accepting of emotions, better appreciating care work, and being more focused on others. These men have a more flexible view of masculinity and understand that caring for their children and doing housework doesn’t make them less masculine. Additionally, I found that stay-at-home dads often meet a lot of judgment, confusion, and stigmatization when taking on this new role. Many stay-at-home dads are questioned about this choice and can be looked down upon for not providing financially for their family. I discovered that even children can have a hard time wrapping their head around a dad taking on the caretaker role in the family. Overall, understanding stay-at-home dads and their experiences  gives valuable insight on ideas of masculinity and gender norms, as well as societal expectations in regards to the roles of moms and dad.