If Stay at Home Moms are perceived negatively, how are stay at home dads perceived?

I am a stay at home Dad. My wife is capable of making more money than me, and in this economy, we cannot afford child care. It is also rewarding to be able to spend so much time with my little girl.As for other peoples perception of me,, At first, there were some people looking down at me for it.

But once they understood the whole situation, I have gotten no grief. When I take my little girl to the playground, I'm a big hit with the women. Of course, their enthusiasm falls when they find out I'm not a widower.

A first they tend to give a lot of unsolicited advice, but again, once they get to know me a bit, and see how I am with my daughter, that goes away. It's not as accepted as a stay at home mom is.. But it isn't as looked down upon as people would think. Women tend to be far more understanding at first, but then, they tend to know it' a full time job.

Men tend to see it as womens work. Of course, the other fathers.. they see me at the playground talking to the mothers while watching the kids.. they assume all kinds of grossly inappropriate.

But honestly yes stay at home dads are looked down on. First people think he must have some disability. Then what is wrong with this guy he can't support his family and who wears the pants at home, etc.. But the truth is if she can make more money then you whats wrong with it.

The kids are cared for by at least one parent and thats the important thing. People will come around in the long run.

I feel really really *really* bad saying this, especially in light of kaiote's answer, but if you say that stay at home moms are viewed negatively than I'm going to have to say that stay at home dads are viewed more negatively. I think society expects men to work and have careers, and there's a certain lack of understanding in terms of why a man would choose not to take that route on purpose. In reality though, I think it's great that a man would share the load and support his family in the best way possible; even if that's not monetarily.

On the bright side, I think society is slowly figuring this out.

Personally, if I can support my family with my earnings I won't mind at all, and even support, if my future spouse wants to be a stay at home dad. I really really dislike to clean house or do other similar duties and taking care of toddlers all day might drive me crazy. This is one of the discussion I had with my friend.

She too, prefered to have a stay at home dad. Of course, it won't be easy. If it's not easy in the Western countries, it's even more looked down in Eastern society such as ours because of the gender stereotype.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.