Has the stigma disappeared for stay-at-home dads?

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Has the stigma disappeared for stay-at-home dads?

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  • 105490
    Yes. I think the stigma is gone and people appreciate that parents are making choices that are best for the kids and the family.
    23%
  • 105491
    No. I think people still see it as a little unusual and wonder why the father is home caring for the kids instead of the mother.
    33%
  • 105492
    Maybe. People may be more open to the at-home dad, but they still wonder why mom went back to work and left him with the kids.
    43%

VoteTotal Votes: 330

Dads that stay home to care for the kids have sometimes been judged as "less than," or not being able to cut it in the work force. Do you think that stigma is gone? Are stay-at-home dads more accepted?

Results with 7 short comments
Total of 330 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

23.3%
Yes. I think the stigma is gone and people appreciate that parents are making choices that are best for the kids and the family.
77 votes
33.3%
No. I think people still see it as a little unusual and wonder why the father is home caring for the kids instead of the mother.
110 votes
43.3%
Maybe. People may be more open to the at-home dad, but they still wonder why mom went back to work and left him with the kids.
143 votes
Display Comments:
Yes. I think the stigma is gone and people appreciate that parents are making choices that are best for the kids and the family.

We live in SE AK and it seems to be more common here than down south. Definitely more acceptable.

    #1
     - Mela-2000903
     - 2:22 pm EDT on Tue Jul 13, 2010
    No. I think people still see it as a little unusual and wonder why the father is home caring for the kids instead of the mother.

    Unless dad is filthy rich, why is mom doing it all? pregnancy, push out baby & back to work? what's dad doing besides playing peek a boo?

      #2
       - bronneca
       - 7:16 pm EDT on Tue Jul 13, 2010
      No. I think people still see it as a little unusual and wonder why the father is home caring for the kids instead of the mother.

      Conventional norm is mom can stay home when dad's income supports it; but when mom works and dad stays home, it means he is not employable

        #3
         - SD Dad-2002250
         - 8:09 pm EDT on Tue Jul 13, 2010
        No. I think people still see it as a little unusual and wonder why the father is home caring for the kids instead of the mother.

        The video was fantastic showing the dad CHOSE to stay with his son as his wife made more $. Praise these parents raising their own childre

          #4
           - noid-2002769
           - 10:41 pm EDT on Tue Jul 13, 2010
          No. I think people still see it as a little unusual and wonder why the father is home caring for the kids instead of the mother.

          My husband is a stay at home dad and we have been subject to much scrutiny about our "unusual" family management choices.

            #5
             - TiffanyK
             - 8:58 am EDT on Wed Jul 14, 2010
            No. I think people still see it as a little unusual and wonder why the father is home caring for the kids instead of the mother.

            No. Because women are hypocrites. They say they want this, but deep down, they think less of him, even if they dont admit it!

              #6
               - The Timekpper
               - 11:45 am EDT on Wed Jul 14, 2010
              Maybe. People may be more open to the at-home dad, but they still wonder why mom went back to work and left him with the kids.

              My dad stayed at home dad &after we we're old enough to stay at home together or alone he got a job along with my mom no biggie,.

                #7
                 - Catherine.L.S.
                 - 12:27 am EDT on Thu Jul 15, 2010

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                Discuss this post

                Michael-2000698Deleted
                Comment author avatarMela-2000903

                We live in SE AK and it seems to be more common here than down south.

                  Reply#2 - Tue Jul 13, 2010 2:23 PM EDT
                  Comment author avatarKatrina-2001652

                  My husband has been a SAHD now since 1997. In the beginning, everyone questioned it. Now, we don't get the weird looks or questions. I definitely think it's becoming more acceptable.

                    Reply#3 - Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:41 PM EDT
                    Comment author avatarnoid-2002769

                    The Today show segment shocked me. The video showed a wonderful couple where the family chose Dad to stay with their son so a parent could be involved bringing up their child. This is truly commendable. Then the "talk show" part talked about unemployable dad and riffs in the marriage. REALLY? Let's talk about all those kids brought up by random people in day cares and nannies. That should be the topic. Dads that CHOOSE to take care of their own children should be praised and put on a pedestal.

                      Reply#4 - Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:48 PM EDT
                      Comment author avatarTiffanyK

                      My husband works just as hard at home as I do at work. He and I chose this lifestyle as fiscally more responsible and healthy for our children then spending all of his pay to have someone else raise them. I am always shocked and disappointed when others assume that he is not responsible or caring enough or even cheating one me because he is a fantastic father and taking care of our children. To all other stay at home dads...Thank you!

                        Reply#5 - Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:02 AM EDT
                        Comment author avatarLost2010

                        To TiffanyK, The reason people ask you that is because it happens ALL the time, the stay at home dad ends up cheating on his spouse. It just happened to me, my husband was staying home with our kiddos while I worked a lot to support us. The thing is, all those other desperate mommies at the park see a good daddy and they pounce on him, literally. Good luck.

                          Reply#6 - Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:28 PM EDT
                          Comment author avatarSirrics

                          Let me think about this. Dad can make $45,000.00 with his education. Mom can make $85,000. Yet they don't want to send the kids to Daycare. Who should work and who should stay at home. If you don't understand the economics of this, or you don't believe in them, please stand by to be broke your whole life. Then you have what my wife and I did. She worked outside the home and made less money than me but supplied the benefits. I ended up running a home based business for 15 years and played Mr. Mom all the years our kids were in school.

                            Reply#7 - Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:32 PM EDT
                            Comment author avatarSirrics

                            Let me think about this. Dad can make $45,000.00 with his education. Mom can make $85,000. Yet they don't want to send the kids to Daycare. Who should work and who should stay at home. If you don't understand the economics of this, or you don't believe in them, please stand by to be broke your whole life. Then you have what my wife and I did. She worked outside the home and made less money than me but supplied the benefits. I ended up running a home based business for 15 years and played Mr. Mom all the years our kids were in school.

                              Reply#8 - Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:33 PM EDT
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