Posted on 06/14/2004 6:54:52 PM PDT by summer
The Modern-Day American Dad: Conservative, Fat, and Unwilling To Let His Woman Stay Home
Euro RSCG Worldwide Unveils Trends Taking Shape Among U.S. Dads
NEW YORK, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- As children head to the malls to buy ties and cologne for dear old dad for Father's Day, Euro RSCG Worldwide, a global communications agency, has undertaken an online survey that reveals just who these modern-day dads are. The findings might surprise you.
It turns out Dad is one complicated guy. On the one hand, he's a big old traditionalist -- opposed to same-sex marriage, in favor of spanking, more opposed to divorce. On the other hand, he's less likely than his wife to think it's OK for a woman to stay home with the kids, and he's more likely to enjoy grocery shopping. Who knew?
"What our study has revealed is that there isn't just a gender divide in America, there's also a divide between men who are dads and men who aren't," says Marian Salzman, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer of Euro RSCG Worldwide.
"Today's dad is much more conservative on social issues, and this may have to do with the fact that, even as men are being called on to be more nurturing and involved, their traditional role as 'protector' has become much more difficult. In addition to all the old threats children faced, including substance abuse and hanging around with the 'wrong crowd,' there is now school violence, inappropriate media content available in the home through multiple channels, and, of course, the threat of terrorism. Dads seem to be the ones trying to hold back the line."
In February 2004, Market Probe International surveyed 1,982 Americans online on behalf of Euro RSCG. Among the findings:
* Dads are more likely than their wives to let the bible into the bedroom: 44% of dads say religion factors into their sex lives. In contrast, only 38% of non-dads and 35% of moms agreed.
* Someone forgot to tell dads that they were the ones who wanted to keep women out of the workforce in the first place. Now more women want to return to the home, and men won't let them! A great majority of moms surveyed (83%) think it's fine for a woman to be a homemaker and not do paid work. In contrast, only 66% of dads (and 60% of non-dads) agree with the wife-as-homemaker idea.
* Dads are also significantly more likely than their spouses to believe that divorce should be the absolute last resort (86% of dads agree vs. just 75% of moms).
* Fully 60% of dads consider monogamy a natural state for human beings, compared with just 47% of non-dads and 61% of moms.
* And speaking of sex ... they want it. An overwhelming 81% of dads believe men and women are entitled to expect regular sex from their partners. Tough luck for a lot of them, since only 65% of moms (and 56% of non-moms) feel the same way. Interestingly, only 68% of non-dads think regular sex should be expected, suggesting they may be less frustrated by the conjugal killers known as "children."
* Does the modern-day dad talk openly with his kids about sex? Not on your life. Only 42% of dads do so, compared with 56% of moms.
* When dads do talk about sex, it's not likely to be about anything other than heterosexual unions. Compared with women and non-dads, the fathers in the sample were substantially less likely to agree that same-sex partnerships/"marriages" should be accorded the same status as man- woman marriages. Only 27% of dads support same-sex marriage, compared with 34% of moms, 37% of non-dads, and a whopping 47% of non-moms.
* Is shopping fun? Not according to dads. Just over one-third (38%) of dads said they enjoy shopping and consider it a recreational activity, whereas most moms (55%) feel that way. That might explain all the men slumped on benches at the mall. One thing they do enjoy more than their spouses is food shopping: 41% of dads vs. 39% of moms consider that among their favorite chores.
* A clean home may be a sign of godliness, but it has nothing to do with manliness, say a majority of dads. Only 31% of dads agreed they enjoy shopping for household cleaning products and consider a clean home "fundamentally me"; in contrast, a slight majority of moms (51%) feel that way, as do 48% of non-moms. Non-dads? Fuggedaboutit. Only 25% agreed with that statement.
* Someone forgot to tell dads about metrosexuality. Just 6% of them read fashion magazines, follow fashion seasons, and notice new collections. Twice as many non-dads (12%) do so.
* Nonetheless, 81% of dads claim to take pride in their appearance. That's not quite as many as moms (88%), but it's more than non-dads and marginally more than non-moms (76% and 80%, respectively).
* Spare the rod? No way, say a majority of American dads: 55% of dads in the sample (and 53% of moms) consider spanking an appropriate disciplinary technique.
* 45% of dads (and 51% of moms) consider themselves better parents than their own parents were. Only 13% of both groups believe the opposite.
* A very substantial 82% of dads (and 79% of moms) say they are much more aware of the nutritional/health value of foods than they used to be, but that hasn't stopped 59% of them (and 63% of moms) from considering themselves overweight. Part of the problem is that nearly two-thirds of dads (65%) are less physically active now than they were 10 years ago. Only 59% of moms, 51% of non-dads, and 49% of non-moms are less active today.
"The modern-American dad stands out from the rest of the population on so many important issues," says Salzman. "What we find most interesting from a trends perspective is this postfeminist role reversal in which men are vying to keep women in the workforce while women are trying to move back to the home. Today's dad is eager to keep some things as they were in the mid-20th century, but< he's unwilling-and perhaps unable-to shoulder his household's financial burden without help from his spouse. This has important implications for marketers, certainly, but it also is having a tremendous impact on American life. As men and women increasingly seek a better life-work balance, we can expect to see even more of a clash within households in which both partners are looking to pull back on the work front. We may well see a stronger trend toward downsizing and simplification among couples who are willing to have less in order to be able to do less."
For more information on Euro RSCG's Prosumer Pulse(R) 2004 study or to arrange an interview with one of its authors, please contact the person listed below.[....]
Or it was something beyond or other than love. For one back then there was alimony --- a man would have to pay a wife if he dumped her for another. Then there was a different social climate -- more people stayed near their families and families put a lot of pressure on married couples to stay together. And more people lived in small towns --- and we all know there is no privacy in small towns, less ability to cheat and run around when everyone knows everyone.
You were just expected to get married and stay married --- "fulfillment" and "romance" and trying to find your "soul mate" if the first one didn't turn out to be wasn't the way they thought. Plus fewer women worked along side men so there were less opportunities for many to cheat in the workplace.
I can see why they would because it seems that in marriages with two incomes not only is there more money when the marriage works out but if something goes wrong there isn't going to be the same fight in the divorce --- the judge tends to allow a man much more of his income if the wife has a good income of her own, she's also not as desperate to go after his paycheck and can survive on her own. The divorce is likely to be a bit more equal.
You make good points, but how ironic it is, that with all the greater opportunities to meet a mate, and with women earning money, the end result is: more divorce, fewer marriages, and the lowest birth rate in decades. Something went wrong along the way.
I read to my kids quite a bit. We also cover the modern political scene.
Wow, I'm a hard core conservative then... I want and believe my wife should stay home.. yes it hurts our pocket book, but it helps our kids more than any amount of money. Of course part of her staying home means she has to do the work that is entitled with staying home as well, keeping the house, cooking, cleaning etc.
Anyway, for all you "working mom's" out there who want to stay home but hubby won't let ya... sorry to hear ya hitched so poorly.
Well like most things, Undergraduates don't know crap about crap.... Hell with wife working. I am not opposed to it if it is needed, but last thing I want is a wife working because she "wants" to.
I want a woman who knows that marriage is an emotional partnership, not a financial one. I want her to stay home, cook, clean, take care of the house and kids.... so that they have a stable and constant adult looking out for them during the day.... and leaving me free to focuse my work energies on work... (not needing to figure out who's going to miss work to go talk to teacher this week) and when I come home, be able to unwind and enjoy my family.
I have absolutely no desire to be with a woman who thinks income is more important than family, and frankly any woman willing to put work ahead of her kids and family voluntarily is definately not a woman I want to be involved with.
Conversely if she's the bread winner, I got no problem doing the house husband thing either... I just don't buy into one minute of the gobbledy gook that Carreer is more important than kids.
Sorry Ladies, I don't care what the feminist movement tells you... you do your children no favors putting them in day care all day, or letting others raise them. Now I understand some have no choice, and that is fine, I am speaking to those who do have a choice and buy into the lie that they aren't hurting anyone.
Like the Seargant said, "When young men lie dying on the battlefield, parts of them blown off, they don't cry out for their teacher or day care worker... they call out for their Mothers." Do not shame yourselves by short selling the importance that time with your child is.
Once the children are raised, go out and do whatever, but during the time they are at home, don't... or find a part time thing that can work from the house. Don't get caught in the trap and lies.
How is it that so many women can wonder that a daddy might think it necessary for females to help pay the burden of their individual vote?
I think I would need at least three wives for all that. I generally just settle for "someone who gives a flying flip about the welfare of the kids during the day."
Yes, we have automatic dishwashers, and the dishes are always dirty. We have washing machines and dryers, and the clothes are never clean. We have extremely low maintenance automobiles, and the errands are never run. We have microwaves, automatic ovens and ranges, and the food is never prepared. We have vacuum cleaners, and the floor is always dirty.
Our children are undisciplined, our houses are a mess, and sex is nonexistent.
That is why men want women to go to work.
I'm conservative, thin (a little too thin), and my wife stays home with our two children. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm a stay-at-home mother with a 15 month old. It is all I can do to keep the breakfast/lunch/dinner remains off the floor, the child entertained, diapers changed and toys out of the major pathways so that we can walk... I feel a little guilty that the house gets out of control sometimes because I'm here all day while he's at work.
I love every minute of being with my child and am thankful that my husband and I made it a priority for me to be here. IMO it is the hardest and most rewarding thing I've ever done.
RE your post #77 - Thanks for explaining that. :)
Re your post #86 - A+ for you! :)
Re your post #87 - There are very few men on this thread who said what you did, that you prefer your wife satying home. In fact, I think you're the first. Thanks for your post.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.