Fatherhood: Breaking Double Standards

Society often holds double standards when it comes to fathers and mothers in terms of parenting. While mothers are seen as committed parents, fathers are sometimes referred to as 'babysitting' their own children. This discrepancy is highlighted in the example of Joan Didion and her husband, John Gregory Dunn, where John was not identified as a parent despite writing a whole book on the topic. These double standards also extend to the portrayal of fathers in media, as a search for images of fathers with daughters yields zero results. This shows that fathers should make their role as parents a part of their identity and not treat it as a side project. By openly discussing the joys and struggles of parenting, fathers can model good priorities and help break down these double standards.