[cinci_dads] Re: 'The Masculine Mystique'
- From: AHummeldor@xxxxxxx
- To: cinci_dads@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 17:20:26 EDT
I thought this was an excellent and informative article also. I know a few
people I plan on sharing this with. Thanks.
George
In a message dated 5/15/02 1:48:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
daphne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
<< Subj: [cinci_dads] Re: 'The Masculine Mystique'
Date: 5/15/02 1:48:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: daphne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Mike & Moira Layman)
Sender: cinci_dads-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reply-to: <A HREF="mailto:cinci_dads@xxxxxxxxxxxxx";>cinci_dads@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
</A>
To: cinci_dads@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hey,
I think this article presents a fair and representative view of
stay-at-home fathering. It's well written, unbiased and focuses on the
issues of being a stay-at-home dad rather than focusing on personalities or
individual differences.
Thanks for the info.
Mike L.
----- Original Message -----
From: Cincinnati Dads
To: Cincinnati Dads
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 10:10 AM
Subject: [cinci_dads] 'The Masculine Mystique'
Hi:
Thought you all might like to see this article that a college student did
for her college newspaper (I don't know which college). I will also probably
add it to our website. I would be interested to know what you think of
it...I'll forward your comments on to her. See you Friday!
Tim
Visit Cincinnati Stay at Home Dads at
www.cincinnatidads.com
The Masculine Mystique by Stephanie S.
This article is especially dedicated to DLP-a Stay At Home Father
In 1963, Betty Friedan's book The Feminine Mystique was
exposed to the American public, ushering in an incredible wave of feminism
where women spoke out and rallied together. The book concerned isolated
white middle-class women who were housewives and mothers. When the book came
out, many women identified with it, and wondered if there was more to life
beyond marriage and their family.
That was the feminine mystique.
What about the masculine mystique? What about the increasing numbers of
stay home fathers who watch the children while their wives live out their
career? Or fathers who are single parents? Women have traditionally stayed
in the house, taking care of the chores and children, while men went to work
to provide financial stability for the family. This is changing very fast.
More women are in the workforce today, many men are making the choice to stay
home, and be a nurturing father to the children they helped create. While
many women felt isolated about their home centered lives in the sixties, how
does staying home and taking care of the children full time affect the men?
Let's put the feminine mystique to the side and talk about the men for a
change.
I find it very respectful that a man would stay home and take care of his
children. Perhaps, this is a biased statement as I have always known my
father to work while my mother stayed home and took care of my brothers and
I. But let's think about this for a second, times are changing and progress
is always being made. Websites have reported over two million men are stay
home fathers. However, society is still stuck in traditional gender roles
where a man works is the "breadwinner," while a woman-considered "the
nurturer" stays home. What happens to the fathers who stay home?
Many great men who are doing their utmost to be nurturing fathers are spat
on. Stay home fathers do not receive respect for their choice and are
unfairly accused of being "deadbeats" who cannot find a job or refuse to
work. This is far from the truth as couples with children have made the
decision: one stays home with the children, while the other one works to
finance the family. It is that simple.
Unfortunately, these responsible fathers are the butt of demeaning jokes
("Mr. Mom") that devalue their role as fathers and caregivers to their
children. Aside from ignorant views from society, these remarkable men also
deal with the same issue women experience when staying home with the
children: isolation. Many websites have support groups and information on
stay home fathers.
The following information is from http://www.cincinnatidads.com/, a very
knowledgeable web site for those who are stay home fathers and those who
would like to learn more about them.
Did You Know?
1. A recent study found that the more time dads spend with kids and the
more supportive their relationship, the fewer behavior problems reported by
mothers.
2. Another report found that girls with involved fathers are more likely
to practice abstinence and less likely to use drugs and alcohol
3. Kids who spend increased time with their fathers have higher verbal
skills and academic achievement than kids who don't.
4. Studies find that working mothers are more involved with their children
when the father stays at home than when children are in professional daycare.
Stay home fathers are becoming more acceptable as time goes on and why
shouldn't they? They are doing their jobs as parents just as mothers who
stay home to take care of their children. The next time you see a father in
the park with his baby daughter or five-year old son, always remember that a
man is very capable of being a wonderful, nurturing father to his children
and that being a great parent is not limited to one gender. >>
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