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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with two of their kids
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If Hollywood star Brad Pitt arranges his schedule to fit that of his six children, the trend is not limited to stars. More and more men the world over believe that child-rearing is their priority, and rather than being old-style patriarchs they often act more like friends to their children.
It is Norway that leads the trend. In 2007, some 95 percent of Norwegian men used their legally guaranteed eight-week paternity leave. Even an incumbent minister registered for paternal leave last year.
Australia, where an agriculture-based industry and outdoors culture has nurtured clear separation of gender roles is also following the trend. Working couples accounted for 60.4 percent of the population in 2005, and a growing number of women earn more than men do. The traditionally curt and conservative Aussie fathers are on the wane, while numbers of hands-on fathers who play a substantial role in rearing children are increasing. Alan Rice, the dean of education at Macquarie University, says, "It was unimaginable for Australian fathers to cook or wheel a baby carriage even 20 years ago, but now you can see men changing diapers for their babies in the department store dunny."
An increasing numbers of childrearing magazines for men are coming into the market in Japan, a country almost as conservative as Korea. Magazines like President Family (2005), Nikkei Kids (2005), Odeans (2006) and FQ Japan (2007) are featuring stars who take an active hand in childrearing including Johnny Depp, Takuya Kimura, and Brad Pitt, setting a new and ideal standard for fathers. It is thanks to them that some 20-something Japanese women would rather marry men who are good at childrearing than men with power in society.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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