How today's dads can be the torch bearers of the future

Modern fathers can change how girls are raised and how families share work. In this article I reflect on how definitions in society must change.

What does it mean to be a good parent? This is a very important question for future parents, who want them to be the best they can be for their children, who want their children to look up to them, to approach them for advice, to show them the world through a better lens. The same question can also be very important to reflect upon for parents who intend on improving themselves. So what might be the answer to this question?

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you say good parent? Before a good dad was the breadwinner in the house, the protector of the family, and a good mom was the caregiver, the person who took care of the house from the inside. But now, if you look closely at gender roles in modern society they are changing. Gender roles have become more fluid and it’s happening right before our eyes, and the big shoutout goes to the dads who are redefining the gender norms, and masculinity, leading the new style of gender fluidity, and breaking the toxic masculinity trend.

In an exclusive TODAY survey of 2,000 moms and dads, about 75 percent of fathers said being a dad is their most important job.Research supports the idea that dads are more "hands-on." The amount of time fathers spend on childcare and housework has increased significantly over the last half century, from 6.5 hours a week in 1965 to 17 hours in 2011, according to Pew Research Centre.

I want to add a personal note. I have never seen my dad backoff of from situations where his presence mattered (sometimes even when it didn’t), he attended every small event in my life, my performances, my parent-teacher meetings, and my competitions. He shared household work, and we also had ‘the talk’ about periods.

My dad always intended for me on becoming independent, to be able to stand on my own and never depend on people. My dad did everything I could ever imagine, ever wanted my dad to do. I always look up to him as a role model. He is my inspiration, people like my dad will be the torchbearers for the upcoming generation free from gender norms, a generation that is solely based on equality.

The current generation of fathers plays a huge role in dismantling the gender norms that leave some boys and men feeling trapped. While some may feel threatened by the shift in gender roles, we should understand it means that the definition is expanding to include things that it lacked earlier.

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