S4 E76: Season 4 wrap up
with Dr Jacqueline Kerr
Key Takeways
I had not expected to hear so many other benefits of being an active dad, including mental health benefits for the dad. As some of my guests pointed out, we have to start showing dads why they should do this for themselves, not just for their family or society at large.
I also didn’t expect to have so much empathy for the men, which I think is such an important reminder of the importance of stories to elicit empathy.
I realized there are a group of dads who do want to step up, who don’t want the corporate stress, but who are struggling to get a foot through the door at home.
Parenting is hard and a dad’s perspective can be equally beneficial at problem solving.
Incentives are needed because men are penalized if they do want to be an active dad. The fatherhood forfeit is when men who want to be dads ask for support to be dads, to take leave or to have a flexible work schedule. In this situation, not only are they mocked publicly by political leaders, but they are likely to be treated worse than mothers making the same request. Dads who want to be dads sink to the bottom of the workplace priority list.
There are dads who have broken through these stereotypes and are the main parent or solo caregivers. They are role models for how to care in the modern world. But they still face scrutiny, the question is still where’s mom, and there’s very little product support directed at them, everything is mom tested and mom approved. It’s a missed opportunity.
As mother’s we need to make sure we actively step away from the home when dads are supported to take their turn.
