Change in family dynamics

I think that it is very interesting to note the change in the power model of families. I was just thinking about this recently and it really does show how far females have come with the tolerance for different types of family dynamics. Forty years ago you would always find the woman of the house doing the household chores, taking care of the kids, and keeping track of the family schedule. While this is a job in itself, you rarely saw women working outside of the household. 

These days there are three different types of family power models; head/complement model, junior partner/senior partner model, and equal partner model. The head/complement model is the traditional model where the male is the breadwinner and the female is on "house duty." The junior partner/senior partner model on the other hand is what we see more these days; it is where not only does the man but also the woman of the house works to bring in money. While the woman enters her "double shift" after work with the household duties she also is a part of the financial responsibilities. Lastly, there is the equal partner model where traditional roles are completely disrupted and neither partner is more likely to perform provider or domestic roles. 

Now enough about background, I think the fact that we can define a model that disrupts the roles and allows women and men to partake in both provider and domestic freely says a lot about where we have come. I had learned in another class the naming an issue gives light to how far we have come with that issue. If it was not increasingly seen as acceptable for both women and men to share roles we would not have a model dedicated to that issue. 

These changes in responsibilities of men and women can be seen in everyday situations. Although tradition still holds on and many situations are stereotyped to "proper" gender appropriate roles I think society as a whole is making steps to tear down these stereotypical roles. For example, where I teach gymnastics there is a class called 'Mommy and Me' already from the name it follows a stereotypical attitude towards mothers raising and socializing their infants. But the awesome thing is last session when I taught that class I had a class of 5 and 2 of the 5 children had their dads join them on a Monday morning instead of their moms. Not only is that showing that dads can take an active role in caring for their children but it also shows that the woman must be taking the role as the bread winner. I think this is awesome and I applaud the men that partake in a mommy and me and they prove that times are changing and just because a mom works full time or a dad does not work and stays at home with his family does not mean that they are wrong.