Why fatherhood matters more than ever before

Dads today are spending dramatically more time with their kids than they did a generation ago. But there’s a less encouraging trend tucked into this development.

By: Darby Saxbe, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 16, 2026

Words: 1,181

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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By Darby Saxbe, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Long gone are the days of the distant dad.

According to some estimates, the average time dads spend caring for their kids each day has quadrupled over the past 50 years. Their attitudes about parenting are also changing. Today, men are about as likely as mothers to say parenting is a key source of meaning and a central priority in their lives. Roughly …

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