Question

Society has a way of making people and families feel that there is a certain way of doing things that is right and accepted and if you aren’t going to conform to these standards then you, in a sense, are wrong. A lot of people feel that the men in the family need to be the “bread winner” and that mom should be home cooking and cleaning. While there is nothing with this system, it does not work for everyone and there is nothing wrong with that. In the video we watched, Amy and Marc discuss their shared parenting theory and it seems to work very well for their family. They both split hours at work and both equally contribute to the household tasks that pile up while having a family to take care of. For example, whoever is home from work earlier is responsible for making dinner. When it comes to laundry, Marc does the lights while Amy will do the darks, or vice versa. This system defies the typical gender roles that society has so greatly pressed upon us. Marc and Amy are raising their children in an environment where they are both being exposed to seeing the male and the female equally share responsibilities, whereas in other homes some children are used to staying home with mom all day while she cleans the house and takes care of the family and dad is at work making the money. Their children may have a harder time understanding gender roles because they are being exposed to both sides of things and they don’t really experience being home with mom all the time while dad works. Marc and Amy’s children are not exposed to the “traditional” gender roles. I think as time has been going forward we have been changing what exactly the gender roles are. There are many women who go to work all day and some that make more than their husbands. There is also stay at home dads. While it is rare, it does happen in today’s society, whereas in the past it was completely unheard of and possibly frowned upon. There has been a genuine change in gender roles over the years and I think Marc and Amy’s equal parenting style represents this pretty well. They are showing their children that whether you are male or female, it is possible to take on any role. There is no reason why men can’t help out around the house and there is no reason why woman can’t be out there in the workforce.

IN 9-10 LINES, WHAT DO YOU AGREE ON THIS PAGE OR HOW WOULD COMMENT?

Answer 1

• The equality of men and women who engage in this type of marriage and family is usually measured primarily with regard to the psychological perspective of the participants. Both take responsibility for earning a substantial contribution to the family's income (sufficient to meet at least half of the family's basic expenses and preferably some reserve) and both identify as primary parents to children, responsible for childcare, meeting children's needs and supporting children's development, and as responsible for half the unpaid work of the home.
• Although parenting styles may differ between the parents, both identify as responsible for the child's welfare and the success of the upbringing, not just in terms of providing financially but personally and developmentally.
• There is psychological transition some men experience as they take on a more engaged relationship with their children and do the work of meeting a dependent child's needs and this does impact children since even the children start to observe and understand that housework is not limited to women and officework to men.The influence of family environment helps them understand that gender roles are not limited and can be modified along with responsibilities being shared between a man and woman.
• Although the biological demands on women in pregnancy and childbirth may mean that they take more leave from paid work during this time, men in these marriages take an equal amount of leave, perhaps subsequent to or staggered with the woman's leave in addition to a short period of a week or two jointly taken with the mother during the time of the birth and recovery.
• Since it challenges the traditional gender roles,that a mother is responsible for taking care of the child whereas the father works to earn money,this does have an impact on children when they see both their parents being for them at home taking care of them from time to time. This kind of parenting helps children to understand that men and women can have balanced roles.Equally shared parenting translates into a stronger parent-child bond.
• Numerous studies show that when dads actively participate in childcare, children benefit socially, emotionally and academically. Kids cared for by dads show better cognitive functioning as infants, superior problem solving as toddlers and enhanced academic performance during the school years; they’re less likely to rebel as teenagers.It is also important for the parents to discuss with their children the importance of equally shared parenting and balanced roles so that they do not develop traditional gender stereotypes in future.