The other day The Independent published an article on marriage, A taxing problem for single-issue campaigners. Sarah Cassidy set up a “mums’ panel” from Mumsnet to consider the issues and interviewed a number of women (and only women). The only men she referred to were the political leaders (all men, obviously). Babies are a women’s issue, families are a women’s issue and now, taking this idea to an extreme that becomes manifestly absurd, marriage is a women’s issue.
It reminds me of the times when our girls were on the way and just born. The midwives and health visitors often made the same assumption: because it was about a baby, the conversation could only take place with the mother. Is there any part of modern life where there is more extreme stereotyping than the public face of family life? The other day I was hoovering the stairs and it occurred to me that there is absolutely no external representation at all of what I was doing; it is utterly invisible.
In a few weeks time I am launching a book about parenting and family life. I am not just writing about men in families, I am writing the whole thing, including motherhood and child welfare. I wonder how the media will react to a man taking a role that only women inhabit? Fingers crossed, the novelty will work to my advantage – watch this space!
