Exeter, Devon UK • Mar 28, 2024 • VOL XII

Exeter, Devon UK • [date-today] • VOL XII
Home Lifestyle Emasculated Bond

Emasculated Bond

5 mins read
Written by

Piers Morgan, the nation’s least favourite breakfast show host and all-round unpleasant bloke, has once again made some ridiculous comments in his constant quest for attention. This time, he’s attacking critically-acclaimed James Bond actor Daniel Craig for carrying his baby daughter in a papoose, using the bizarre hashtag ‘#emasculatedbond’. Beyond the fact that James Bond is a misogynistic alcoholic who shouldn’t be used as a role model, and that Craig is not a problematic super-spy in reality, Morgan’s statement makes no sense. But the implication that a papoose somehow robs someone of masculinity speaks to the larger societal problems revolving around men and care-giving.

young men are being actively discouraged from looking after their children full-time

Men aren’t discouraged from having children by any means, but even in 2018 there’s still a prevailing feeling that once the child is born, responsibility divides: the stiff-upper-lipped husband goes out and earns money, while the nurturing, gentle wife takes time off to fully assume the maternal role. Though the number of stay-at-home mums is at an all-time-low, only 9% of mothers according to an ONS survey, women are largely still expected to work part time, whilst men are full-time breadwinners. The 2018 Modern Families Index, put together by charity Working Families, revealed that 90% of fathers surveyed worked full-time, compared to a mere 51% of mothers. In addition, men are only guaranteed a maximum of two weeks paternity leave, whilst women can be granted six weeks with 90% pay, and up to a full year with ‘decent pay’. With no financial safety net and societal pressure to provide for their children, young men are being actively discouraged from looking after them full-time.

It’s not just economics that cause issues, however; advertising and the media continually perpetuate ideas of fathers as well-meaning but generally incompetent and oblivious. The TV dad, from The Simpsons to Outnumbered, tends to be a useless bungler who can’t change a nappy to save his life – their only possible areas of competency will be in the workplace. Nearly every formula milk or baby powder advert features a smiling caring mother, with daddy nowhere to be seen. These stereotypes might be setting up a vicious cycle – if men don’t see responsible father figures in the media they consume, will they take that lack of involvement into their future families? And where do these representations leave same-sex couples? Are two mothers impossibly nurturing power parents, and two fathers a hotbed of blunders and poor choices? Of course not – but there’s undeniably a societal sentiment that men are the inferior parent, not expected to know anything about raising a child.

Even beyond parenthood, men are a rarity in any profession involving young children. The Victoria Derbyshire programme discovered that a mere 2% of 400,000 early years practitioners were male – nurseries and playgroups remain very much the purview of women. Teacher Jamel Campbell stressed the importance of male role models who ‘can be silly…can give you a hug if you’ve fallen down’, but stated that men are actively discouraged from professions with young children, as they are seen as not nurturing, or as a potential danger.

a mere 2% of 400,000 early years practitioners are male

As someone who wants to work with young people and be a father one day, it’s saddening to read countless testimonials of men who have been met with confusion and criticism if they step into a more active caring role. The replies to Piers Morgan’s ludicrous tweet are filled with men happily carrying their children in papooses. To change the dialogue around masculinity and care-giving, we absolutely need a societal change in attitude, yes: but we also need more guys like that. Men who are proud to care, proud to get involved, and proud to be active fathers are the future.

You may also like

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign Up for Our Newsletter