The tension between caregiving obligations and work responsibilities is often framed as a women’s issue. But it’s not just working mothers who find themselves in a bind: Plenty of men say they not only value caregiving but want to do more of it. So what’s holding them back?

A new report from the Better Life Lab at the think tank New America—which publishes research on workplace equity and family policy—indicates that men face some of the same hurdles that working women do, from limited flexibility or autonomy to a lack of structural support. 

Compared to 2019, men are taking more time off from work or reducing their work hours due to caregiving responsibilities, especially those who earn less or have children with special needs. At the same time, they continue to grapple with the kind of cultural stigma that can keep them from taking paid leave even when they’re entitled to it. 

The report’s findings suggest that many men actually want to spend more time on caregiving: In fact, a surprising number of fathers—six in ten—expressed an interest in staying home full-time. Men who helped care for adults or children with special needs were even more interested in being home. Over two-thirds of the men surveyed claim to think caregiving is as important as paid work, and that both parents should contribute equally. But the reality is quite different: Only about 40% of respondents who are caregivers and parents said they actually split those responsibilities equally.  

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