Mary Pouline, Author and Founder, Sapience Publications
Hello dear readers,
I am Mary Pouline, back again with my monthly parenting insights. This time, let’s dive into shifting parenting dynamics in Indian households. For decades, Indian homes have been shaped by traditional gender roles. Fathers were often seen as the primary breadwinners, while mothers carried the responsibility of child-rearing and running the household. This division, though culturally ingrained, is undergoing a significant shift in contemporary India. Increasingly, fathers are stepping into roles that go beyond financial provision, embracing caregiving responsibilities with equal seriousness. This transformation is reshaping family dynamics, children’s upbringing, and even societal perceptions of masculinity.
From Sole Providers to Co-Parents
Traditionally, Indian fathers were cast in the role of the ‘provider.’ Their identity was tied to earning money and ensuring financial stability for the family. Childcare, from changing nappies to helping with homework, was largely considered a mother’s domain. A father’s involvement often began and ended with discipline, moral guidance, or career advice. The phrase “Wait till your father comes home” summed up how children perceived paternal authority.
However, with changing societal norms, higher female participation in the workforce, and greater exposure to global parenting models, this equation is shifting. Fathers today are more visible in playgrounds, at parent-teacher meetings, and even in hospital delivery rooms—places where their earlier absence was almost assumed.
Why This Shift Is Happening
Several factors have contributed to the evolution of fatherhood in India:
1. Women’s Workforce Participation: According to World Bank data, though India’s female labor force participation hovers around 25%, in urban middle-class households, dual-income families are increasingly common. This requires fathers to share domestic and childcare duties.
2. Nuclear Family Setup: With joint families giving way to nuclear households, young parents can no longer rely on grandparents for day-to-day childcare. Fathers, by necessity, are stepping in.
3. Changing Masculinity Norms: Media and advertising campaigns—like Ariel’s #ShareTheLoad ad campaign—have spotlighted the idea that caregiving is not just a woman’s responsibility. This has slowly chipped away at old stereotypes.
4. Pandemic Effect: COVID-19 blurred boundaries between work and home. A 2021 UNICEF survey found that Indian fathers spent nearly twice as much time with their children during lockdowns compared to pre-pandemic times.
