Stay-At-Home-Dads: The Real-Life 'Mister Moms'

The Real-Life 'Mister Moms'

    In past centuries, anachronistic in comparison to the revolutionary, the male gender was given the reputation of being the dominant sex. With this came the obligation for men to provide for their families when they inherited the title of a husband and/or a father, by their own wilful discretion. Before the modern era, they worked as slaves in order to attain their in-law’s respect; paid tithes and had to prove they were worthy of being wed to a woman by presenting a noble source of income. Come the 20^th century; its influence for the emancipation of women and their equality with men changed all that. In this new age; myriads of men prove their manhood as far as copulation is concerned. After which, their dignities may occasionally become downgraded as they are configured into “househusbands” and “flat-chested mothers”.

    These individuals are more reputedly known as “stay-at-home-dads”. The current number of these men was reported to be at two million; although this count is only attributable to unemployment.* There are other situations existent and most likely overlooked; such as a gentleman running his own business, overwhelmed in its tribulations and intricacies. Another who, in spite of his devoted efforts, earns in one month what others make in a day. Or one that is impaired with a physical handicap; making it a near impossibility for him to find a suitable job. These circumstances, at times, require them to prove their worth in a marital relationship by playing the role of maternal fathers. Yet this obligation may have various unfavorable consequences and/or issues; many of which are romantically comical but true:

·                1.They may sometimes find it arduous to gain their wives’ affection.

·                2. They are criticized behind their backs by their spouses’ acquaintances-fortunate to learn that their children do not have potential step-fathers clandestinely waiting to overthrow them.

·               3.  They occasionally (or often) are compelled to tolerate their in-laws’ enquiries of their wives thus: “What did you see in that loser?” during visits.

    

      Is it not a paradox that women, either billeted at home or sitting behind a desk, are always revered; but men are only respectable when they wear a suit and a tie instead of an apron? That they are vilified if they stand behind a kitchen counter without the title of ‘CHEF’? And that society encourages their children to address them as “slackers”; but not their wives who spend their days cross-stitching and emulating the moves of Korean aerobic-dancers on television?

    Hauntingly, this might be karma for the epoch when men treated their partners as servants and hailed them as “WOMAN” rather than “darling”. (It was the best of times, (and then) the worst of times…When a queen held a large jaw and a king, a plain face.).

    

    The fault-finders of ‘stay-at-home-dads’ must be made to realize that it is no effortless task to ferry children from one venue to another while carrying on negotiations with clients; to inspire in them the principles of moderation regarding financial assets; or patiently coerce an infant to lie still during a diaper change; among many other commitments. If the late 1900’s brought about the ‘Margaret Thatcher’s’ who figuratively inspired women to relieve themselves standing up; perhaps the present one would find a need for ‘Martin Luther King’s’ and ‘Malcolm X’s’ to defend the self-esteem of males inclined to do so sitting down.

    These statements are not intended to inspire male chauvinism or the overpowering of feminism and women’s lib. But if the latter were the agents that raised the weaker sex from their former social stature; then it would only be fair to grant the humiliated gender the opportunity to redeem themselves from their “fall from grace” by declaring their relevance in the world.

   

 

*www.athomedad.org/media-resources/statistics