How did we come up with the idea that dads are not good at parenting? A user on THREADS posed this question.
So often fathers are seen as incompetent in the media and there are certainly biases in the courts that benefit mothers much more than fathers. When I asked an attorney how she combats implicit bias against fathers that she represents she could only offer prayer and do your best to show otherwise.
Here are my top five reasons why fathers are seen as the "lesser" parents:
Mothers carry the child since conception and often can foster a connection with the child before birth.
Gender roles in society generally place the mother as the caregiver and the father as solely a provider.
Some men will exhibit "Weaponized Incompetence" a deliberate tactic where someone pretends to be incapable of avoiding responsibilities, shifting tasks onto others, or manipulating situations to their advantage. In fatherhood, a father will say things like "You're better at these things than I am" or just do things wrong on purpose to avoid the daily activities of child-rearing.
as mentioned before media is a huge influence on perception. Sitcoms like The Simpsons, Family Guy, or even dramas portray fathers as nothing more than big children who don't know the first thing about conducting themselves, let alone a child.
Finally, some men focus on careers and sometimes this can unintentionally lead them to neglect their families perpetuating the idea of dad's being seen as the "lesser" parents.
Hello fathers, parents and caregivers!
I’m coach Keith. I am the father of three daughters soon to be four. My eldest two are from a previous relationship with my college girlfriend. They are 12 and 14 years old. My youngest child that I parent with my wife is 18 months.…