A ‘Father’ – Whenever we hear this word, we always think about a person who is courageous and works hard to give the best life to family. Traditionally associated with discipline and strictness, the role of a father has significantly evolved over time. Today’s fathers are not just providers but also deeply involved in parenting, balancing their responsibilities with compassion and care. By embracing more active and nurturing roles, they are reshaping family dynamics and challenging conventional norms, setting a new standard for modern fatherhood.

Societal Shifts Encouraging Equal Parenting

In today’s time, as women are equally contributing to work and achieving great success, fathers are stepping up as helping hands in parenting. Yes, it can be said that societal shifts are encouraging fathers to take on more active parenting roles.

Expert Opinions on Modern Fatherhood

Ms. Divya Mohindro, a renowned Counselling Psychologist gives an agreeable point of view on this. She says that “Now fathers are taking on an important role in the lives of their children, actively investing their time in daily schedules, school curriculums and being involved from the birth of their child. Whether it’s monitoring the feeds, playing a sport with them, or attending school parent teacher meetings, the involvement of fathers is invaluable & important. Fatherhood is no more just being the breadwinner & the financial provider.”

Dr. Priya Parekh, Founder Director Metowe MISSION 2034 also mentions that “There was a time when boys were discouraged from expressing their emotions and stereotyped as being a strong boy. But today new age fathers understand the importance of being empathetic and compassionate. They recognise the value of these traits in relationships and personal growth. They look forward to help their wives in managing both professional and household responsibilities seamlessly, fostering a balanced and supportive partnership.”

Gone are the days fathers were that figure who came from office took a sip of tea and buried his face in newspaper. Gone are the days where fathers didn’t have any conversation with their kids and were just a strict figure at home. Fathers are not just providers, but also mentors and nurture emotional bonds and create a harmonious family environment. The credit should also be given to workplaces. They support them in balancing both work and parenting.

The Role of Workplaces in Supporting Fatherhood

Ms. Divya Mohindro underscores the importance of flexible work at workplace. She says that corporate culture is quite supportive. Men get freedom to decide when and where to fulfil their job responsibilities. This helps them to give more time to parenting. Setting childcare facilities or supporting fathers financially can help them get confidence to support their children & be less absent from work too.

“Paternity leaves mean parenting leaves. These leaves help fathers to contribute equally. Senior staff, especially men, should set an example. Work culture & environment should be created that supports & encourages male employees. The employers should ensure that men know about the company family policies.” She further adds.

Dr. Priya further underscores the importance of gender equality in parenting roles. She recommends the need of such HRs who believe in gender neutral roles and give a paternity leave to all new fathers as well as work from home options when the working mothers need support.

The Impact of a Father’s Nurturing Role on Child Development

Now, we have understood about the importance of gender equality in parenting roles. Another point to be noted is that how does a father’s nurturing role impact a child’s development.  

Ms. Divya explains about the positive impact when fathers come to an active parenting role. She asserts, “Fathers play an important role in their children’s social, emotional, and behavioural development. The children are more likely to have emotional security and higher levels of self-esteem and confidence. They are generally happier and can deal better with stress and difficulties.”

“Children are less likely to experience problems such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and violence. They have better social connections with peers and are more likely to engage in prosocial behaviours such as sharing, helping.” She further elaborates.

Building a Better Society Through Education and Counselling

Fatherhood is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. Parents also need to evolve with changing societal dynamics. It is important that they are properly counselled before marriage, equipped with the knowledge to handle family situations effectively. Educating boys about diverse cultures, traditions, and identities, while promoting empathy and understanding, will help build stronger families and ultimately contribute to creating a better society.