Ten-fold rise in stay-at-home dads
The number of fathers staying at home to take care of their children has increased 10 times in the last 10 years, with more women taking the role of primary breadwinner.
According to new research by insurance giant Aviva, almost 6% of fathers, or 600,000 men, currently think they are their child's primary carer, compared to just 60,000 saying so a decade ago.
A total of 18% of couples said they shared the childcare responsibilities equally.
The most common reason for men to give up work and look after the children was that their partners earned more. In 16% of families with dependent children, the woman was the main breadwinner.
In 85% of households with children, one parent had reduced their working hours or quit work completely in order to look after their children. One in three said that the cost of childcare had compelled them to do so.
Many women who are the main earner found the change of role difficult, with nearly four in 10 women saying they felt guilty about going to work.
Around 15% occasionally dislike the fact that their partner does not have to work, while 9% would like to swap roles and stay at home.
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