Bobblehead Dad – What Working Women Say About At-Home Dads
Today’s guest is Dr. Marianne Dunn, one of the co-authors of a recent study exploring what working women with at-home partners feel about themselves, their families, and their relationships with their children and spouses. The study was recently shared at the 16th Annual At-Home Dads Convention. This is a show all dads, stay-at-home dads, and moms will enjoy! As host Jim Higley and guest Dr. Marianne Dunn converse, you’ll learn why couples choose to reverse traditional roles and how they feel society views them. You’ll also learn why at-home dads deal with a larger societal stigma than their working wives.
“This is really the first study that’s been done, in the United States, exclusively on the women’s experiences [of being the sole breadwinners of their families],” says Dr. Marianne Dunn. Women in the study were asked a variety of questions ranging from how they made the decision to be the “at work” parent to how they (and society!) view their stay-at-home husbands. Their answers may surprise you!
But what would an episode of Bobblehead Dad be without having the opinions of a few fathers? Surprise guests Al Watts, a stay-at-home dad to four kids and President of Daddyshome, Inc.; Matt P., a brand new stay-at-home dad to his 19-month-old daughter; and Ronnie D., a former military man and at-home dad for over 7 years; join the show to add their input to the answers found in Dr. Marianne Dunn’s study. How do the dads themselves feel about the results of this intriguing research?
“The impact on [the women's] careers was overwhelmingly positive,” states Dr. Marianne Dunn. Women were able to go forth in their chosen career paths–further than ever before!–knowing that their children were safe with a trustworthy caregiver. These mothers shared their delight at being able to stay out late, travel with no guilt, and reveled in their added flexibility.
But what are the biggest negatives…? Learn how these relationships are viewed from the perception of the wives. How has their current family arrangement affected their children? Their marriages? And is it true that men just can’t keep a “perfectly cleaned house?”
Tune in!
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