This is the reality curtaining new-parents made up of 20-somethings and 30-somethings.
Generation Y, loosely refers to those born between 1980 to 2000 and are giving birth to the current Generation Z (or rather, the post-millennial) babies.
The individuals that fall under Generation Y are said to be more domesticated, not because they have to, but because they choose to. And don’t get confused – they are still highly career-driven, but they seek balance, and therefore are as driven in their personal lives.
However, this is not to say that other generations are not as career-driven or as domesticated, but the point is rather about the conventional roles of husbands and wives that have now been blurred. Your guess is right – the gender roles we see in Mad Men, are no longer applicable in today’s era.
There are more women in the decision-making positions in organizations, and women now see themselves as having the same choices as men; i.e. whether or not they want to be a stay-at-home parent or be the breadwinner.
Typically, the men are the breadwinner, holding a high-position in the company (if they are not in the military) and come home everyday to a hot hearty meal prepared by their wives... whilst their children update them with the daily happenings in their lives.
The women, are expected to go to school to get basic education (and maybe go to college for a bit), spend an immense amount of time looking pretty to woo potential husbands, and spend time raising kids and making their homes after getting married. But this is no longer the picture of a “typical family”.
With more countries being open about LGBT rights, and the many ways to make money (no more restrictions to just 9 to 5 jobs), the typical gender responsibilities have become more flexible to suit every couples’ needs.
Hence in today’s parenting world, we see more dads taking up home duties and raising kids, and more moms bringing home the bread. Is this a bad thing? Not really. Not even a scratch to the ego of men folk.
According to a research done by NAS Insights, (titled Generation Y: The Millenials. Ready or Not, Here They Come), “fathers have now entered the child rearing equation and companies realize that time away from the job to spend with the family is very important... the parents of Generation Y are very hands-on. Parents are involved in the daily lives.”
In fact, this movement is not just a trend, but a lifestyle that will probably stay for quite a long while. In an article by Ashley Primis published in the Philadelphia Magazine, “How Dads Become the New Moms – and Why It Might Be Better for Our Kids”, she mentioned that this evolution is an effect of Gen Y men, who are challenging the stereotypes.
They largely opt for freelance jobs or work from home, just so that they can put their kids to bed, and are the ones sending to and fetching their kids from school.
The scenario we often witness where moms would gather at the playground gossiping away while their kids play catch, are now warped with scenes of groups of dads huddling together with their strollers at the park, exchanging notes about the recent football match and some politics.
An obstetrician and gynaecology expert from the National Hospital Universiti of Malaysia (HUKM), Professor Madya Dr. Harlina Halizah Haji Siraj also said in an interview Astro Awani did with her, that it is not uncommon that more women are earning more than their husbands, as their husbands mostly work on a project basis. Because of this, the husbands feel that they should contribute more to the family by compensating it with quality time.
With more time to spare, these men will also then pamper their wives and indulge in family activities more as compared to before. This is why the Gen Y fathers are considered to be the best yet. But this is of course, not to dismiss fathers (and mothers) from other generations who have done a great job in providing Gen Y parents with the right ethos to be who they are today.
So if you ask me if I think this current reality is a good thing, I would say it is. I like the fact that both the husband and the wife have the choice and flexibility to take up the roles they are comfortable with in the family, as well as support their partners in the choices that they make. So to those of you women out there who are married to a Gen Y man (or about to be married to one), just consider yourselves lucky!