Abstract
This research was carried out to evaluate the gender equality based on the roles that father are entitled to perform, regarding the existing policies and perceptions. An investigation in this topic is significant because it is based on actual and practical reasoning to prove how negative assumptions have made fathers feel like they possess feminism qualities, or as financial misfortunes in the family or society. The findings of this study stated that men's involvement in the completion of family roles helps in boosting the confidence of achieving the goal of gender equality initiatives. It also allows for positive growth and development process that yields ethical and well-behaved children through acquisition high self-esteem and corresponding positive personality, that in turn enhances their relationship skills and parental skills in future.
Men, Families and Gender Equality
Introduction
In the past, significant organizations such as the United Nations and other conferences have relayed much concern about the aspects of families (Abelin, 1980). These include family roles, engagement in responsibilities, gender equalities and men's unusual dominance in the family participation. Increased concerns on the roles played by men in the family have been motivated by the rapid changes and transformations that have occurred like demographics, socio-economic statutes and cultures. The states factors have resulted in substantial alternations in the overall well-being of family stabilities. Changes have also been witnessed in the perceptions of people on the roles of men and women in their families. Typically, most states in the USA, and other nations like in Africa and Asia, still believes that although women are beginning to occupy external responsibilities to obtain income, they are still perceived to be the primary providers and caretakers of children in the family (Abelin, 1980). The assumption has considerably impacted the values and beliefs of men, who find themselves in the same roles because on most occasions, they have felt undervalued and failures in their society. However, the central aim of this study would be to discuss how the beliefs by men who are engaged in performing family roles can be dismantled based on accurate and profound illustrative pieces of evidence, to make them participate in those roles more effectively, without feeling any act of feminism or as financial misfortunes.
Roles of Men in the Achievement of Gender Equality
As men continuously diverge into the caregiving roles in the family, the initial focus should be based on the contributions that men are playing to attain the worldwide fight for gender equality.
Indeed, it would seem meaningless, if women and countable organizations were left to fight and achieve the motion of gender equality, without the involvement of the current dominant categories and significant partners to the action. Studies showed that more fathers in Brazil, Chile, Croatia and Mexico had decided to take leave from after having their last child so that they can participate in the caring activities (Richter et al., 2012). Raising kids at home necessarily does not mean offering food and other basics, but also shapes the way a kid develops their personalities, on how to interact with the surrounding and outside the family, when they grow up (Richter et al., 2012).
Studies indicate that a child would be more likely to adapt and learn family roles, based on the practical experiences and observations in their families. It, therefore, means that a child born in a family where women primarily engage in the caregiving duties, as the father majors in the economic and financial stability of the family, are more likely to adopt the same tradition, ideology and belief. Possibilities are that, when the child becomes an adult, he/she will engage in the same at their own families, as psychologists say "you become what you attract" (Connell, 2003). As many organizations and various partners would continuously remain strict and vibrant on their fight for gender equality, it is ideally impossible if the men are not allowed freely into the family roles to raise kids. Involving males in the family also provides definite assurances that future generations would offer a neutral playground for both males and females, be it in the economic, social and political aspect.
Lack of Public Policies to Support Men’s Involvement in Families
All over the world, researchers and various professionals afflicted to in-depth gender studies, have repeatedly raised much focus and concern on the need to have a balanced scoreboard where men can freely engage in the family roles to raise kids without feeling any sort of feminism and masculinity. The findings from such studies and reports by activists have also ascertained that men have great importance towards the child's development process. However, policymakers and legislators have become so reluctant to overheard these outcries. As a result, there are no stable laws that dictate gender equality, or those that grant women the authority and freedom to involve in income-generating activities, with their husbands offering similar caregiving services to kids in their absence. As a result, most men still feel like they are attracting feminine qualities or like they are financially unstable, whenever they are tasked with the family roles.
For this reason, studies depict that policies should be set forth to help in the achievement of gender equality. Child development is a critical factor that determines their future and can also define their levels of self-esteem. Furthermore, it is imperative to note that men are usually strict and could have more regulative measures within the family, that helps kids to grow within the scope of ethical characters. For instance, it is true that in the USA, the rate of crime in various states is comparatively high than in most similar economic giants. According to research done by Richter, 70% of the criminals are always men (Richter et al., 2012). Taking this as a single perspective, it can be predicted that these effects arise because women make a more significant percentage in the child development process in the USA. Besides the USA is one of the nations that still official policies and guidelines that define gender roles differently.
There are underlying assumptions and various recommendations by researchers that engaging men in the process of raising kids, can help to ensure that children grow up with straight characters that are generally acceptable (Htun & Weldon, 2010). This could only be achieved if men are allowed to engage in raising their children without seeming feminine or financially misfortunate. Most social policies should they be adjusted to cover up the roles of men in families, such as offering care and education to their children, engaging in reconciliation works at the family, without necessarily considering them as economic providers (O'Leary & Thorwick, 2006). Some of the policies that have been set in place include South Africa's 1998 Caregivers and Maintenance Act, 1986, Norway paternity leave and gender equality policies (Richter et al., 2012).
The Purpose of Recognition and Support From Children
Researches carried out to investigate the social interactions between kids, mothers and fathers indicated that children are usually well conversant with their mothers than fathers. Although much is known on the economic responsibility of men, it is outstandingly clear and imperative to understand that children usually recognize their mothers as the critical providers because they may be too young to realize that the father finances the resources and services offered by the mother. For this reason, concerns and much interest have been raised to include men in performing family roles, as a means of building stronger social relationships with the kids. Recognition by children is more important because kids can usually intervene in some future conflicts that arise in society.
Moreover, O'Leary and Thorwick (2006) also suggested that most fathers have taken this as an advantage to mistreat their wives because when divorce proposals are made, the existing laws and policies would decide that the children be left with their mothers, as the father provides financial assistance even in their absence. Most men are thus using this to cheat, concluding that after all, their kids won't blame them, as they have not interacted before. Perhaps, the situation could be changed by having men engaged in the family roles, to perform to offer care and supportive home education at home. In one way or the other, this practice also helps in reducing the instances of divorce among families.
Fathers would undoubtedly become more committed when they interact closely with their kids and form healthy relationships since they will always have the empathy to the kids even if it does not necessarily mean to the wife. In summary, engaging men are family roles and, in the society, at large, enables them to obtain recognitions from their kids, who can eventually learn to acknowledge and appreciate the importance of men (Anderson & Hamilton, 2005). The kids can inherit the same idea and philosophy once they grow up, a fact that will help in shaping the theme of gender equality in most generations to come.
Analysis
The presented analysis, data and illustrative examples in this study are useful elements for understanding the ides of gender roles, specifically on men’s involvement in the family caregiving tasks. First, the functions of men in the achievement of gender equality were supported by the results provided by a survey from International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) who gathered findings in seven different countries (Richter et al., 2012). The main aim of the survey was to evaluate how men took the family roles of offering care and education to their children. The data confirmed that, although a higher percentage of men have not adjusted to these roles, the figures are slowly expanding, and there are promises that gender equality motion will be successfully achieved. The large growing numbers should further persuade other father, that anyone can involve in the child-caring activities without prejudgments.
Secondly, the research also noted that there were limited legislations and guidelines to substantiate gender equality by considering men as equally important in the proper child development process. South Africa's 1998 Caregivers and Maintenance Act, 1986, Norway paternity leave and gender equality policies have already been set in place to promote inclusion of men in undertaking family roles (Richter et al., 2012). Nevertheless, more implementations, especially in the developing countries, is still required to ensure that that the fights and campaign for gender equality is uniform. With these policies in place, the assumptions and postulations by men, that when they provide care, then its either they are assuming the feminine qualities of are financially unstable can be dismissed.
Finally, the research identified that the failure of a male to perform family roles makes them miss the recognition and appreciation from their kids, on the economic support they are offering. It is, therefore, more useful an appealing to undervalue the aspects of feminism and masculinity, because they deprive fathers the respect and acknowledgement from their children. The section further concludes that to regain this appreciation, and to make kids identify that both parents are equally contributing towards their positive growth and development, male parents must offer carefreely.
