The question defines the answer, pt 1
Andrea Doucet's Do Men Mother?, released this week, makes the startling observation that stay-at-home dads are different from stay-at-home moms, according to a review in the Ottawa Citizen (11/10/06). While Doucet's interviews with 120 Canadian fathers did seem to reveal some patterns of behavior and attitude in men, it is unclear what female data she used for comparison. Bianchi (2000) suggests that women are not spending considerably less time with their children, while men are spending more time, leading to a net gain in parental-time.
The main difference that Doucet seems to be highlighting is the men's desire to retain their masculinity. "Some women revel in those social and networking aspects, whereas this is less the case for men. So I think for them they need to find interests that keep them in touch with their own sense of what it means to be a man" Doucet told the Ottawa Citizen. Sheldon (2002) suggests that parental social networks are predictors of parental involvement, but Sheldon's study specifically excluded fathers.
Are there differences between fathers and mothers? Certainly. Are these more a factor of social pressures or differences in interests and desires? Can those be differentiated? The quotes given from Doucet's book point again and again to men carving out their own space -- being able to spend time with and nurture their kids without feeling that they're "giving up" their masculinity. It seems to me that the question itself puts men on the defensive. Questioning why a man would choose to stay at home is the opposite of progress.
The main difference that Doucet seems to be highlighting is the men's desire to retain their masculinity. "Some women revel in those social and networking aspects, whereas this is less the case for men. So I think for them they need to find interests that keep them in touch with their own sense of what it means to be a man" Doucet told the Ottawa Citizen. Sheldon (2002) suggests that parental social networks are predictors of parental involvement, but Sheldon's study specifically excluded fathers.
Are there differences between fathers and mothers? Certainly. Are these more a factor of social pressures or differences in interests and desires? Can those be differentiated? The quotes given from Doucet's book point again and again to men carving out their own space -- being able to spend time with and nurture their kids without feeling that they're "giving up" their masculinity. It seems to me that the question itself puts men on the defensive. Questioning why a man would choose to stay at home is the opposite of progress.