WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- The number of men in the United States who forgo a career to become a stay-at-home parent is increasing, U.S. Census Bureau statistics show.
The Washington Post reported on Father's Day that an estimated 159,000 U.S. fathers have embraced fatherhood as a full-time career. While that figure represents only 2.7 percent of stay-at-home parents, it is a nearly 300 percent increase from a decade ago, the newspaper said.
Experts point out that such figures would likely increase if single fathers and dads who only work part time to help out at home are factored in.
Yet some experts have complained of the positive regard society offers such stay-at-home fathers, saying such applause is representative of a gender bias.
"If moms work, they have possible guilt for not being home with their kids. If they're home, there's a lot of tug that they're sacrificing their career," University of Maryland professor Eric Hazell told the Post. "For dads, people think it's just great that you stay home. Then when we go back (to work), it's what people expect in the first place."
