In today’s world, it is becoming increasingly common for women to be the primary breadwinners in their homes. Not only is the population of stay-at-home dads on the rise, but the percentage of women serving as breadwinners (earning more or being the sole income earners in their households) has risen to 40% of all households. Many of these households include single mothers who are the sole income providers for their children, while others feature households where both parents work, or only one does.
Changing Roles and Attitudes
Over the past 40 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of women entering the workforce. Today, more women are graduating from college with high-income earning potential degrees than ever before in North American history. In addition, many companies are striving for gender balance in their workforce by promoting women into higher-paying positions due to labor laws and compensation efforts. As a result, women are holding better-paying jobs and earning more money than in years past. According to statistics and flow charts from Pew Research Center, this trend is one that society will need to adapt to. This shift is also driving a change in outdated gender roles and perceptions about men, women, and their responsibilities within the family.
Another notable trend is the shift in attitudes regarding who should be the primary breadwinner in a household. Around 32% of women today believe it is not only acceptable but also advantageous for women to work outside the home. Men, too, are adjusting to this new norm, likely influenced by the recession, which has displaced many men from blue-collar jobs, and the growing confidence in having a female partner as the primary breadwinner. This shift is also influencing the roles that mothers and fathers play in parenting, leading to a revision of traditional gender roles that have persisted for centuries.
Today, it is no longer unusual to see involved dads, with many fathers cooking dinner, cleaning, and playing an active role in domestic duties. In fact, modern fathers are empowered to take their relationship with their children to new levels, becoming more than just financial providers. Children are growing up with the understanding that dads can do anything moms can do, and that success doesn’t depend on a single family structure. While there is still judgment regarding mothers who choose careers over traditional motherhood, and toward dads who opt for the typically maternal role of staying home, society is gradually becoming more accustomed to this evolving family dynamic. The next generation will likely grow up without the outdated mindsets that dominated the 1950s and 1960s.
It’s clear that we have come a long way since the days of Rosie the Riveter, when women had to fight for their independence and their right to be financial contributors in the home. So, how do dads feel about these changes?
Most dads are embracing this shift. In a world once dominated by mommy blogs, there are now well-established dad blogs spreading the message about how fulfilling being a stay-at-home father can be. Younger couples, according to surveys, are more open to sharing responsibilities regarding child-rearing, and they are learning to divide domestic and parental duties so no one person is responsible for a single task. Dads are doing laundry, changing diapers, mopping floors, cooking dinner, and taking on domestic duties eagerly and happily, seeing their contribution to the family as a priority rather than a threat to their masculinity.
The good news is that children will benefit from this role reversal. Young girls today are growing up with the belief that they can achieve anything, and being a female does not automatically hinder their ability to succeed outside of the home. They are witnessing firsthand that women can balance both family and career. Sons and daughters are seeing their mothers as empowered individuals, not victims, and single motherhood is becoming more socially accepted. Moreover, dads are building deeper, more meaningful relationships with their children. Ultimately, the definition of what works for a family is evolving, which is a positive change, because the typical family model doesn’t work for everyone.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is how well your family dynamic works for you. Every family is unique and must consider various factors when making decisions about how to function. In some households, it works best for mom to stay home while dad works. In others, the roles are reversed. In the majority of households today, both parents work and share parental and domestic responsibilities, which is becoming the norm. If a woman earns more than her husband and is able to provide better for her children financially, this in no way compromises either the father’s integrity or the mother’s maternal instincts.
According to Pew Research Center, we can expect dual-parent working households to increase by as much as 64% over the next five years. Additionally, the number of women serving as the sole or primary breadwinner is expected to triple in the same period. Regardless of how society has traditionally viewed family dynamics, the vision of the family is evolving right before our eyes—and most people are happy to see it happen.
