In 2018, a new father left home with a 4-week-old little daughter on a sling. A fairly unobtrusive event. It was James Bond — actor Daniel Craig, except that this wasn’t anyone.
Craig’s Hotos was printed in the press, and television host Piers Morgan lamented that Craig had “castrated 007.” The result is a huge amount of discourse in newspapers, radio stations, social media and television. Some supported Morgan (who later backtracked his comments and claimed to be humorous), but the majority of far more voices agreed that his comments were insane.
Some have asked what is a sufficiently masculine way to transport an infant. Do you dribble the streets like soccer?
The trivial incident may have revealed something deeper.
This is a major shift in our perception of the role of modern fathers, increasing awareness of “celebrity fathers” and shaping, challenging and informing attitudes towards masculineness, family and fathers. Indicates whether to do it.
“In general, celebrities tend to play a role that was once played by religion and something that has since declined,” said Dr. Anthony McIntyre, and author of the UCD Film Division. Contemporary Irish Popular Culture: Transnationalism, Regionality, Diaspora To tell.
“It’s a way to model your behavior and a script to live your life. Often what celebrities are doing is shaping our own views and how we are in the world. Helps shape what can be oriented to. “
Over the years, a celebrity dad doing pretty normal things has sparked a heated debate. Why did these incidents resonate so deeply at both the individual and social levels?
Ashton Kutcher, Russell Brand and “Diaper Duty” Politics
In 2015, Ashton Kutcher received a lot of virtual backputting when he complained about the lack of a baby-changing facility in men’s toilets. “Until you become a parent, you may not understand how sexist public toilets are,” he said on social media.
His screams brought positive coverage and put him in the category of celebrity dads who are happy to change diapers.
The list also includes musicians John Legend (the face of Pampers’ “Smell Loot Duty” campaign), Brian O’Driscol, Chris Martin (he said he had mentally purified the process), and David Beckham. increase. all right!magazine Changing diapers is “one of my passions” (it may seem trivial and enthusiastic).
Beyond the fence is a celebrity dad who still doesn’t want to get his hands dirty.
Russell Brand famously said he didn’t do it because he “too focused on the mysterious implications” of his daughter’s “beauty and elegance,” but Simon Cowell “makes it a nanny.” I’ll leave it to you. “
At some level, celebrity dads who are celebrated by changing diapers are completely annoyed. It is arguable that mothers are never admired for such a basic level of childcare.
Dr. Lee Getler, a professor of anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, says the praise we give to his father for completing such work is clear. “Fathers’ standards are sometimes very low,” he says. “We are stroking Dad’s back to perform these basic activities that Mom has been doing for decades and centuries … we are embraced by Mom. I’m not embracing my father in the same level of public expectations as … there is a double standard. “
However, conversations about changing diapers suggest a changing domestic role for fathers in the nuclear heterosexual family structure.
In the United States, fathers have tripled their time with their children since the 1960s. And the types of care they provide have changed. “Dads tended to focus on more fun, recreational, or leisure activities,” explains Dr. Getler.
“Recently, there have been some changes in how that time is allocated, so Dad is doing more routine, practical, and perhaps less enjoyable activities.”
This is partly due to the emergence of more double-income households and the spread of democracy throughout society. Women seek greater equality in all aspects of their lives, both personally and professionally.
Dr. David Ralph, an assistant professor of sociology at Trinity College, says this has permeated the home and “real problems such as who is trying to change diapers.” “Democracy isn’t abstract, it’s realistic and messy,” he says.
Ryan Reynolds and Stay-at-home Husband
dead pool Star Ryan Reynolds has become a self-respecting celebrity super dad in recent years. He blames his paternity, but he plays a very practical role. Last year he announced that he was a step back from the movie to spend time with his children. “I’m busy, so I’m just staying home,” he said.
This reflects the increasing number of housewives (SAHD) in the United States and Ireland. According to the CSO, SAHD doubled in Ireland between 2001 and 2017.
Parenting experts and authors 15 minutes parenting, Joanna Fortune says it would be beneficial for a well-known dad to reverse the parenting stereotypes. “The increase in so-called” practical dad “expressions helps to open up discussions about modern parenting and challenging outdated stereotypes.
“There is a change in attitude that celebrates the departure from the stereotypes of the role of dad. It is about violent play and taking children to sports activities, which allows dad to calm and comfort parents. Opens the importance of that too. “
Modern Lanfan: Rock’s “Daddy Cure” and David Beckham’s Kiss
The decision to share a photo of David Beckham kissing his daughter Harper with his lips often leads to online discussion and criticism.
“I kiss all the kids with my lips,” he said in response. “We want to show love to our children. We protect, care for and support them. We have a lot of love for them.”
Dr. Anthony McIntyre believes that this expression of affection may have caused astonishment for two reasons. The first reason is that “it feels like there is no collective script”.
He also believes that he is taking advantage of the deeper social question of what it means to be a man.
Feminization of the workforce has changed the role of men in society and “stabilized the coordination” of masculinity, he says.
“At the heart of it was the whole idea of a patriarchal existence of a father and a earner … it seems to be unstable from the late 20th century to the 21st century,” he says. ..
“This means there’s a lot of debate about what a man should be and a lot of tension. And when Daniel Craig is wearing a papus or David Beckham is on his daughter’s lips. If you’re kissing, you’ll find it’s like a fuss. That’s a big story, “Is this what my dad does?”
“There seems to be uncertainty about how to become a father, and there seems to be uncertainty about how to become a man, which is reflected in the cultural appeal to the father and the right path to the father.”
Many of the celebrity dads who win the most headlines and cause the most controversy are the kind of superheroes (John Cena, Ryan Reynolds) and sports stars (David Beckham). Tends to be an “action man”.
At a very superficial level, these men embody the dichotomy of old-world ideas of masculineness (strength, power) with a more modern interpretation of masculineness (kindness, upbringing, kindness). Looks like it does.
This could explain why there was such a reaction when Beckham kissed his daughter or Dwayne’s “Rock” Johnson was nailed to his youngest daughter (called “Daddy Cure”). There is sex.In a sense, it’s a modern version of the famous 1987 poster Lanfan A naked muscular man hugged a newborn child.
Joanna Fortune believes it is essential to encourage such affection and interaction between children and their parents. And it’s beneficial for others to see famous stars kissing children and raising them openly.
“”[They] Help them challenge the presumed norms that nurturing, soothing and functional care is the role of the mother and show that they are merely the role of the parent. It is important to see and know that our children can meet their upbringing needs equally by both / either parents. “
Longing for Ricky Martin and his father
As the definition of family expands, so does our understanding of fatherhood.
In 2010, Ricky Martin spoke openly about his desire to have a child and how sad he was when he thought it wasn’t possible.
“I’ve dreamed of becoming a father for years. I’m gay, I’m gay in the closet, and I can’t be a dad, so I’ve gone through this process of sadness many times.” He says. He told Oprah Winfrey.
It was unusual to hear men discuss their dreams and ambitions for their father at the time.
“There were more stories about people who wanted to be fathers who wouldn’t have been culturally accepted decades ago,” says Dr. McIntyre.
“So the idea that a man wants to be a father and feels the need for this upbringing … we seem to be able to talk about it more than before.”
Martin also openly discussed the surrogacy journey of him and his husband Jwan Yosef.
Brian Dowling and his husband, Arthur Gourownian, are writing a documentary near the house about Dowling’s sister giving birth to a surrogate mother.
These high-profile examples of same-sex families, as well as the complexity of their journey to parents, increase visibility and show how family and paternity have evolved and diversified.
