The New Dad: 7 Things You Didn't Know About Working Fathers

The Boston College Center for Work and Family recently surveyed 1,000 working fathers employed at Fortune 500 companies, asking them where their desires, priorities and realities are when it comes to work and family.

Their study, The New Dad: Caring, Committed and Conflicted, reveals some facts about today's dads that might surprise you.

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1. Work is not "what they do"

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The idea that a man is defined by what he does for a living is roundly rejected by today's fathers. Two-thirds of fathers say that "work is only a small part of who I am." While a large majority of those surveyed say they are happy with their job, and most have a strong desire to advance in their career, only 16% say that "most of my interests are centered on work."

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The idea that a man is defined by what he does for a living is roundly rejected by today's fathers. Two-thirds of fathers say that "work is only a small part of who I am." While a large majority of those surveyed say they are happy with their job, and most have a strong desire to advance in their career, only 16% say that "most of my interests are centered on work."

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Dads today are both more committed -- and more conflicted -- than ever before. They feel compelled to give 100% to both their jobs and their families, and -- like moms before them -- they're saying they shouldn't have to sacrifice one for the other.

What do you think? Can today's dad have it all?

Read the full study here.

 

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Comments

[weekendpartier]

09:53 AM on 06/20/2011

Yeah, another ridiculous survey - these guys are the nerds of society - real working men like construction workers, cops, etc., don't have the luxury to do all these things with their kids - Stay at home cop, yeah right. A stay at home construction worker, yeah right.

[Rex Flexibility]

09:07 AM on 06/21/2011

actually police officers and construction workers are two great examples of unionized professions in which you can find a well-paying job and still find balance with life/family

[tamashi]

01:37 PM on 06/19/2011

another liberal feminist wishlist pretensed to be a survey of what dads want. Majority of men wanting to be housewives? yea in your dreams, no matter what propaganda you push, you will never be able to emasculate men.

[DanInAustin]

10:17 PM on 07/11/2011

If my fiancee ends up making substantially more money than me, I'd be HAPPY to leave the corporate world. I'd spend all day riding my bike, cooking and hanging out with my hypothetical kids. Not everyone's self-worth is defined by their career.

[FlexHourJobs]

11:30 AM on 06/17/2011

Great take on the topic! Census figures show that married couples have dipped to only 48% of households, a historical shift in what the American family represents. Fathers too, place a high priority on spending time with their children and the concept of work-life balance is not the radical concept that it used to be. Over fifty percent of corporate executives now say they would trade salary levels in order to have more time with family. Fathers are experiencing more work-life conflict than ever before. Employers smart enough to recognize the value of human capital will do what they can to help their employees balance their lives and work commitment, thereby ensuring increased satisfaction, engagement, motivation and loyalty.
Jacqueline
http://www.FlexHourJobs.com

[Davey Johnson]

07:08 AM on 06/25/2011

So, how long have you been teaching Fantasy World 101?

[helenwheels74]

03:17 PM on 06/16/2011

hmm... why do the last 3 photos in the slideshow show men on the computer or phone, not actually interacting with their kids?
i am extremely lucky, as is my daughter, that i have an equal co-parent. we aren't together, but the trust and communication as parents is there. it has always bothered me that largely in our society, when a man spends time with his kid(s), it's referred to as "babysitting" rather than "parenting". how can men step up as equally responsible parents when women don't often give them the chance to rise to the occasion, especially when it comes to custody agreements?

[Hsu Tanaka]

07:33 PM on 06/16/2011

Because they're about how men manage their (presumably white collar) jobs and interactions with their kids? Why aren't you more concerned about the complete lack of children in the first picture? I thought this was about dads!!!1!1

[Davey Johnson]

07:35 AM on 06/17/2011

Agreed.... babysitting is what it is.

[Scent]

11:31 AM on 06/16/2011

This is ridiculous!!! - We all know that god wants women to care for kids and men to work till they drop. Free market demands it. And if women do anything else than caring for kids and of course shopping the economy will collapse.

We can not have this dangerous science about reality. Get rid of it! What we need is people who will do as the richest tell them and not as they believe is right.

[King Cashaw]

02:34 PM on 06/18/2011

Do not let the secret out.