Transforming American Fatherhood: 5 Strong Facts How Dads Redefine Parenthood and Personal Identity

Report Issue

Please complete the required fields.

Your Name

Email

Reason (required)
This post contains broken linksPost has incorrect informationPost has spamCopyright IssueOther

Description

Submit

American fatherhood looks different than it did decades ago. Today’s dads spend more time caring for their children, and they’re less likely than in the past to be the family breadwinner. At the same time, most view parenthood as a key aspect of who they are, and many have clear aspirations for their children’s futures.

For Father’s Day, here are six facts about the views and experiences shaping fatherhood in the United States today.

1. Dads overwhelmingly view being a parent as an important aspect of their personal identity, a survey of U.S. parents conducted in fall 2022 shows. The vast majority of fathers with children under 18 (85%) say being a parent is the most (24%) or one of the most (61%) important aspects of who they are as a person.

2. Most of dads’ time with their kids is spent playing or providing care, according to data from the 2021 American Time Use Survey. Dads with kids under 18 in their household spend, on average, 1.02 hours caring for and helping them per day. This includes 0.36 hours playing with them and 0.32 hours providing physical care (such as dressing and bathing them, changing diapers and getting them ready for school).

3. The more children a couple has, the more likely the husband is to be the family breadwinner, according to a recent Center analysis of Current Population Survey data. For instance, husbands are the primary or sole breadwinner in 48% of opposite-sex U.S. marriages with no children, 54% of marriages with one child, and 57% of marriages with two children. And in 69% of marriages with four or more children, the father is the primary or sole earner.

4. Most Americans say it’s best for children when their mom and dad both focus equally on work and taking care of their kids and home, a January survey by the Center found.

5. Fathers are more likely than mothers to feel judged by their spouse or partner for how they parent their children, according to the Center’s fall 2022 survey of parents. Among fathers who are married or living with a partner and have children under 18 years old, 56% say they feel this way at least sometimes, compared with 49% of mothers.