Source: Fortune
Summary
American dads are spending more time on childcare, with the average time quadrupling over the past 50 years. Today, men are as likely as mothers to say parenting is a key source of meaning and a central priority in their lives. However, this increased involvement is partly due to the decline of extended family and community networks that once supported childrearing. Research suggests that American dads are devoting more time to parenting than dads in some hunter-gatherer societies, where childcare is shared among community members. The time men spend on childcare has become increasingly stratified by class, with college-educated dads spending more time with their kids than noncollege-educated dads.
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The announcement sounds familiar.
American dads are taking on more childcare responsibilities, but this shift is accompanied by a growing class divide. College-educated dads are spending more time with their kids, while noncollege-educated dads are not. The lack of paid paternity leave and flexible work options for low-income dads exacerbates this divide. The rise of intensive parenting among affluent parents has also contributed to this trend. The author argues that hands-on parenting should not be a luxury good and that policies should empower all dads to spend time with their children.
The village is missing, and parents are paying the price.
Author: Evan Null
