Should fathers share responsibility of parenting?

Ever since World War II, women’s social movements have been continued for centuries. The status of women has been promoted especially in the workplace, schools, and families. Thus, the dispute over parenting responsibility within families has also become an issue in many parts of the world. Some people doubt whether working mothers are able to spend their time taking care of their children, while some believe that both parents should take up the responsibility of child-rearing. This essay discusses why fathers should equally share the parental responsibility

Many people consider the role of parents as a dichotomy in the value and norms of the traditional societies they live in. They argue that fathers who are seen as breadwinners, carrying economic burdens and social expectations, should provide at least the basic standard of living to a family. For instance, in some of the middle-eastern countries, men tend to earn money to support their families whereas women are expected to ensure the safety and the upbringing of their children. Therefore, in most traditional countries, the responsibilities of child-rearing fall on mothers.

However, with the impact of women’s liberation around the world, women now have more career and educational alternatives nowadays than their ancestors did. Women are no longer content with traditional roles; instead they compete with their counterparts in workplace, and earn an equivalent payment to men. It is unfair that working mothers have additional responsibility of looking after the children. Men, therefore, have to share with their wives the responsibility to participate in raising up their children. Most important, and to support women’s right to equal treatment.

On one hand, fathers are sometimes too busy to take on extra responsibility. For example, they may feel annoyed or get impatient with childcare as they support their family with demanding jobs or long working hours. A father might seek personal space to relax instead of enduring noisy kids. In addition, some people doubt it is necessary to spend time with children since not all fathers are good at parenting. In other words, it is well recognized that mothers are the first school where children learn their manners and behaviors, while fathers should concentrate on