A dad from the United Kingdom posted a photo that sparked a debate about parenting stereotypes on Reddit. The photo showed himself wearing a t-shirt that says, "Dads don't babysit, it's called parenting."
The Controversial Shirt
The photo of Al Ferguson has since gone viral, even sparking debate on Reddit and other social media platforms when he posted the photo on Wednesday, reported BBC Trending. Al Ferguson is the founder and editor of The Dad Network, a U.K. based website that provides a support system for dads.
Ferguson told Today that he purchased the controversial shirt from the National At-Home Dad Network, which provides the same support but based in the United States. Apparently, Ferguson bought the shirt in the hopes of spreading awareness on "parental equality."
"I bought the shirt, really, because it is appropriate to the message that we as an organization aim to promote, but also to support the At-Home Dad Network," Ferguson said. "I think it's a fun way of communicating a wider issue about parental equality that society is still getting to grips with."
Parenting Sterotypes
After posting on Reddit, a lively discussion ensued, challenging stereotypes as other dads shared their own accounts. Daily Mail UK reports on how other dads expressed their own sentiments of being sidelined most of the time.
Igniteice from Reddit said, "People at work say to me all the time 'So you have to watch your kids lol.' No I don't HAVE to, I GET to be around them." Meanwhile, user IKnowYouAreButAmPie said, "As a stay at home dad myself this stuff can really hurt. I get it the most from my family."
Dads aren't the only one affected by the improper treatment. One of the moms also shared how she was admonished because she left her kids with their dad.
User Aneane said, "Someone was furious at me when I 'left' the baby 'home alone' with his dad. Surely the 40-year-old dad is incapable of looking after his child," she finished off sarcastically.
A Bigger Issue At Hand
The image of Ferguson has resurfaced after the Imgur post, which has been viewed more than 3,900,000 times. While the number of stay-at-home dads is greatly increasing according to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, the rate of men being the primary caregivers is still low at 16 percent.
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