While reading Enlightened Sexism I couldn't help but think of my own
family. My mom has always been the breadwinner of the family, so when my dad
lost his job awhile ago, things didn't drastically change. It was decided that
he would be of better use at home, dropping off/picking up my sister and I from
school, doing the laundry, grocery shopping, preparing meals, etc. For a few
years this continued and I found nothing wrong with it, everything was being
taken care of. A girl in school told my sister that in my family the roles were
switched: that my mom was the man and that my dad, the woman. He was a
"stay-at-home dad", but he wasn't a woman.
Just
because he wasn't bringing in money, didn't make his useless. He really helped
my mom out by doing the things that she was too busy to take care of. I didn't
feel like the roles were reversed, but others did because society suggests that
what my dad was doing were women's tasks. Even though women have long been
accepted in the workforce, it is still socially acceptable for women to tend to
their homes and children. Men are expected to be the ones to provide for the
family, because that is what makes them "manly". I totally disagree
with this. Women can choose to work or stay at home, and men can do the same.
What they decide to do should not affect the way that they are viewed in
society.
I like that you related the article to your family life, especially because you're right about your parents roles. I think that if a woman is super smart and successful, there is no reason for her to give up her career to take care of the family. Sometimes, that is where a man finds his happiness and there's nothing wrong with that! A woman shouldn't have to feel like it's solely her job to take care of the children, the kids belong to both her and her husband.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that men and women shouldn't have to stick to traditional gender roles. I know in my house, my dad has always been the sole breadwinner. When he decided to start a business and we were struggling financially, my mom went back to work with whatever job she could find. However, I know if roles were reverses, my dad would never take on the "mom" role. I think women are more comfortable with non-traditional gender roles than women. It's awesome to hear that your dad is embracing his important role in your family as a stay-at-home dad.
ReplyDeleteReading this was very interesting. I feel that women who take on more of an authoritative role she is looked at in a positive day; strong, independent, and powerful. However, when men take on more women-friendly task, they are belittled, made emasculated, and made out to be not as good, or considered a failure. Although many people like to focus on the difficulties women go through, when roles are reversed it seems that men actually get the negative effects of stereotype gender roles.
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