Sunday, March 08, 2009

Newsweek Calls Laid-Off Fathers Gym-Hitting, Cartoon-Watching Layabouts

Sometimes, I just don't know where to start. Newsweek, last week, ran this extraordinary piece of drivel on how men have historically used periods of unemployment and economic turmoil to hit the bottle (and the gym and the remote). There is some historical analysis there that is utterly inapplicable to the current state of things, as well as heavy reliance on some borderline-satirical websites. 

The fact is that, during economic downturns, the number of guys who pick up responsibilities at home skyrockets -- as made clear in the early 1990s recession. I'm sure it's hip to suggest otherwise, but we're in an era in which fathers are picking up a historical amount of household responsibilities. Are we anywhere near 50/50? No (and that's an issue worth addressing). But we sure ain't couch-bound slobs, no matter what Newsweek may tell you.

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