Chinanews, Shanghai, March 30 - Nowadays, many men in Shanghai choose to be "full-time dads". According to a survey by Dr. Bao Leiping (covering 742 families with a full-time parent), a researcher in the Institute of Adolescents of Shanghai Municipal Academy of Social Sciences, 14% of her respondents are "full-time dads".

 

"This reflects the changes in social values, as men are expected to contribute more to the family affairs rather than be successful in their careers only," said Bao.

 

"However, full-time dads are usually less active in their roles than full-time mums, as most of them can not help but act as full-time fathers due to unemployment or in order to pursue further studies, " said Bao. "Only very few of them are willing to be full-time fathers in the future. After all, it is often mothers who pay more attention to the education of their children and the well-being of their families."

 

"It is a new fashion in Europe, especially in France, for men to 'return to their families'. Besides, fathers and mothers play different parts in the education of children, as men have a wider mind and they are prone to provide a freer space for children. Thus I believe it is good for both of the parents to take up the responsibility for their children's education," concluded Bao.