Gender Roles

I recently read an article titled "A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles" by M.P. Dunleavey. This article is about a couple who decided to switch things up a bit. They were expecting a baby, meaning one of them would have to be out of work to care for it. Instead of the usual, stay at home mom routine, they decided to have the dad quit his job and take care of the newborn. Before launching the plan, they had no doubts about it. The fact that she would be providing economically for the family and her husband would be providing domestically didn't bother them at all. However; once they began this expiriment, she came to find it wasn't going to be that easy. The probelm wasn't being able to care for the child or the ability to support the family enough, but rather something more on the emotional side. Since she is being considered the "breadwinner" of the house, certain responsibilities are being put upon her that she isnt used to. The reason men don't get as negatively affected by these responsibilities is, according to Barbara Risman, professor of sociology at the University of Chicago, is because “men have a sense of esteem, of identity that comes with being the provider” I found this article very interesting because if I were put in this situation i would automatically think that switching the roles of the Husband and Wife would have no affect on them at all.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/27/business/27instincts.html?scp=1&sq=gender%20roles&st=cse