Daunting Task for Mr. Mom: Get a Job
source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109593/daunting-task-for-mr-mom-get-a-job?mod=c...
Outnumbered and Often Isolated, At-Home Dads Face an Extra-Hard Slog Back Into the Work Force
Much has been written about the challenges awaiting at-home mothers who decide to return to work. Few of them, though, have a tougher time of it than the stay-at-home dad.
Compared with at-home moms, who outnumber them by more than 5 to 1, at-home dads face a bigger stigma among would-be employers, and they often have fewer opportunities to network from home. Also, they are returning to a labor market where men have suffered major setbacks; heavy job losses in male-dominated industries and middle management have led pundits to label the latest downturn the "he-cession."
A record 7.4% of fathers in married-couple families with children under 18 were home in 2009 while their wives worked, based on unpublished Bureau of Labor Statistics data set for release next week. That is up two percentage points from 2008 and the highest on record, says Sandra Hofferth, a University of Maryland family-science professor and researcher on family time use.
At-home dads who succeed in landing jobs often have to go to extreme lengths to do so. Morgan Attwood was at home full time during the workweek for two years after the birth of his son. He kept a hand in his career field by working weekend hours that no one else wanted. The Columbia, S.C., photojournalist reported for one or two Friday, Saturday or Sunday night shifts each week at a TV station while his wife, a college professor, was home with their son.
Much has been written about the challenges awaiting at-home mothers who decide to return to work. Few of them, though, have a tougher time of it than the stay-at-home dad.
Compared with at-home moms, who outnumber them by more than 5 to 1, at-home dads face a bigger stigma among would-be employers, and they often have fewer opportunities to network from home. Also, they are returning to a labor market where men have suffered major setbacks; heavy job losses in male-dominated industries and middle management have led pundits to label the latest downturn the "he-cession."
A record 7.4% of fathers in married-couple families with children under 18 were home in 2009 while their wives worked, based on unpublished Bureau of Labor Statistics data set for release next week. That is up two percentage points from 2008 and the highest on record, says Sandra Hofferth, a University of Maryland family-science professor and researcher on family time use.
At-home dads who succeed in landing jobs often have to go to extreme lengths to do so. Morgan Attwood was at home full time during the workweek for two years after the birth of his son. He kept a hand in his career field by working weekend hours that no one else wanted. The Columbia, S.C., photojournalist reported for one or two Friday, Saturday or Sunday night shifts each week at a TV station while his wife, a college professor, was home with their son.
-
-
MotherForTruth
-
Finally media is recognizing fathers.
- 2 years ago
-
MotherForTruth
