It is true that in some parts of the world, the responsibilities of mothers and fathers are not always identical. There are several reasons for this issue and some changes in the role of parents in the future may occur.
There are several reasons for the differences between father’s and mother’s responsibilities. One of the main explanations is the biological differences between male and female. Physical and mental differences due to the influence of hormones in men and women have contributed to the division of caregiving responsibilities. Specifically, women are often more emotional, meticulous, thoughtful, and patient. These are very well-suited qualities for feeding, keeping and educating their children as well as domestic duties. In contrast, men are physically stronger and more competitive. That is why they are suitable to be responsible for the cost of living. Another important cause stems from the traditional ideologies. In certain countries, especially in Asia, such as China, Japan, Korea,… are heavily influenced by gender stereotypes. These biases have shaped their different perceptions and behaviors. According to some prejudices in these countries, women are inherently obligated to be homemakers after marriage, tasked with domestic duties such as household chores and childcare while male should focus solely on their breadwinning roles and career success to provide financial support and address broader societal issues. These stereotypes, in addition to creating a gender imbalance, has led to a clear division between the roles of father and mother in these countries.
Looking in the future, there will be a shift in attitude toward parental roles worldwide. The biggest change would be flexibility in the role of parents. Thanks to societal advancements and gender equality, both mothers and fathers will participate more equally in the workforce as well as collaborating on housework and childcare. Women will have equal access to education as men and be able to pursue their careers even when they become mothers. Meanwhile, men will have support in earning income from their wives and have the ability to spend more time with their children. Furthermore, the decision of who stays home and who goes to work may depend on their income level, thereby it is possible for mothers to become the family’s financial breadwinners and fathers to be a househusband without fear of prejudice.
In conclusion, it is clear that the different roles of father and mother stem from many factors and in the future, there will be many changes in parental roles.