Mystic perspective of the day here -
I dream of the day when fathers of all stripes know their importance in the emotional and physical upbringing of their children. That they are not there to be a "male role model", but that they are working together with their partner(s) and/or the child's mother(s) in their health, education, and socializing.
I dream of less sole custody, and more shared custody or joint custody. I dream of less insistence on the single-wage-earner economy as the basis of household income, but a shared household economy where fathers are equally involved in the caring of children, and mothers are equally pursuing business and political ventures.
I dream that one day culture will stop propagating the image of the bumbling father who can't fix a meal or locate the baby wipes. That children can run to either mother or father to kiss their boo boo, to comfort them when they are scared, to reassure them they can achieve, and to answer their questions.
I dream of the day when mothers don't feel like they have to do it all. That they have a partner to be right there with them, and vice versa.
I dream of the day when same sex male partners prove to the world that their children are stable, loving, educated, compassionate, and strong. And that this was the result of a father's love for his children.
I dream of a father being able to look his daughter in the eye, and believe without a shadow of a doubt that she can become President some day, and then to be able to tell her that and support her in whatever she wants to do as much as his son.
I dream of fathers knowing how utterly and profoundly valuable they are to their children. That they don't have to try to be more of a "man". That they don't have to hide their sadness. That they don't have to mold themselves into the stoic Marlboro Man and have to stuff all their tenderness away for fear of looking weak. That they are truly free to share their unbounded love with their children, and to hug, kiss, and tickle without fear of looking like a pedophile.
My feminist dream in opening up and freeing future generations for gender equality includes males who don't have to be trapped in the patriarchal role of uncaring soldier who only goes out for the "kill" to feed his tribe. I want my sons to know they are much more than the stereotype. I want my daughter to expect in her relationships a man who feels free of abiding by institutional patriarchy.
We seem to be heading there, step by step. But I truly hope to see this reality as a simple assumption in my lifetime.
I dream of the day when fathers of all stripes know their importance in the emotional and physical upbringing of their children. That they are not there to be a "male role model", but that they are working together with their partner(s) and/or the child's mother(s) in their health, education, and socializing.
I dream of less sole custody, and more shared custody or joint custody. I dream of less insistence on the single-wage-earner economy as the basis of household income, but a shared household economy where fathers are equally involved in the caring of children, and mothers are equally pursuing business and political ventures.
I dream that one day culture will stop propagating the image of the bumbling father who can't fix a meal or locate the baby wipes. That children can run to either mother or father to kiss their boo boo, to comfort them when they are scared, to reassure them they can achieve, and to answer their questions.
I dream of the day when mothers don't feel like they have to do it all. That they have a partner to be right there with them, and vice versa.
I dream of the day when same sex male partners prove to the world that their children are stable, loving, educated, compassionate, and strong. And that this was the result of a father's love for his children.
I dream of a father being able to look his daughter in the eye, and believe without a shadow of a doubt that she can become President some day, and then to be able to tell her that and support her in whatever she wants to do as much as his son.
I dream of fathers knowing how utterly and profoundly valuable they are to their children. That they don't have to try to be more of a "man". That they don't have to hide their sadness. That they don't have to mold themselves into the stoic Marlboro Man and have to stuff all their tenderness away for fear of looking weak. That they are truly free to share their unbounded love with their children, and to hug, kiss, and tickle without fear of looking like a pedophile.
My feminist dream in opening up and freeing future generations for gender equality includes males who don't have to be trapped in the patriarchal role of uncaring soldier who only goes out for the "kill" to feed his tribe. I want my sons to know they are much more than the stereotype. I want my daughter to expect in her relationships a man who feels free of abiding by institutional patriarchy.
We seem to be heading there, step by step. But I truly hope to see this reality as a simple assumption in my lifetime.