The Important Role of Fathers

THE NEXT GENERATION OF FATHERS

At no other time in history have dads been as passionate about and committed to rearing their young children, and they want to do even more. Fathers play a role in every child’s life. This role can have a large impact on a child and help shape them into the person they become. Here are some key findings about fathers from Pew Research Center.

More dads are staying home to care for their kids

The share of fathers who are stay-at-home dads ticked up from 4% in 1989 to 7% in 2016. As a result, dads made up 17% of all stay-at-home parents in 2016, up from 10% in 1989. Among Millennials (those ages 20 to 35 in 2016), 6% of dads were at home with their kids.

Dads see parenting as central to their identity

Dads are just as likely as moms to say that parenting is extremely important to their identity. Some 57% of fathers said this in a 2015 survey by the Center, compared with 58% of mothers. Like moms, many dads also seem to appreciate the benefits of parenthood: 54% reported that parenting is rewarding all of the time, as did 52% of moms. .

Work-family balance is a challenge for many working fathers

Just like mothers, many of today’s fathers find it challenging to balance work and family life. About half of working dads (52%) said that it is very or somewhat difficult to do so, a slightly smaller share than the 60% of working mothers who said the same.

Dads are much more involved in child care than they were 50 years ago

In 2016, fathers reported spending an average of eight hours a week on child care – about triple the time they provided in 1965. And fathers put in about 10 hours a week on household chores in 2016, up from four hours in 1965.

There is plenty of evidence for the changing attitudes and aspirations of fathers today, and programs and policies must be put in place to ensure dads - and all parents - have what they need to be successful.

RESOURCES:

• Tuning In: Parents of Young Children Tell Us What They Think, Know and Need from ZERO TO THREE
• MenCare, coordinated by Promundo and Sonke Gender Justice: A global fatherhood campaign active in more than 50 countries on five continents whose mission is to promote men’s involvement as equitable, nonviolent fathers and caregivers in order to achieve family well-being, gender equality, and better health for mothers, fathers, and children. 

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