ABSTRACT

Despite predictions that the ‘new man’ was emerging in the 1980s and 1990s, most housework and child care is still undertaken by mothers (see Delphy and Leonard, 1992, Chapter 9). In many Western nations, it was unheard of for men to work in nurseries or other children’s areas until recent decades. Things plainly have changed a lot in the last few decades, it is now acceptable for men to take roles in teaching, nursing, etc. It is also acceptable for men to nurture their own children and Russell (1983) has demonstrated that men can be perfectly competent caregivers.