“I’ve heard the claim that parenting doesn’t come naturally to men because they lack the biology for it. That belief can make business and policy leaders reluctant to invest in policies that support men’s involvement in childcare. But new research can help us shift that narrative by showing us that great parents are made, not born.” – Dr. Darby Saxbe in Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How it Shapes Men’s Lives
What does the paternal brain have to do with women’s health and stress? Um… everything?
When we assume there is something innate to the maternal brain only or a sex-specific biological driver underlying a female compulsion towards caregiving, we get into an especially sticky narrative of moms/women do this, dads/men do that. It’s not hard to see how this narrative tracks towards stereotypes and gender norms and policy structures that conveniently ignore the ways men/dads care (and are fully capable of caregiving) while overloading women/moms. Why do we need paternity leave when women have maternal instinct? Why support child care policy when mom is the best caregiver a kid could have? Etc. Etc.
Darby’s research on the paternal (caregiver!) brain and the transition into parenting has always fascinated me for the narrative busting gap that it fills. So it was an absolute delight to get an advanced copy of her book Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How it Shapes Men’s Lives to see how she weaves all of this together. Spoiler: it’s brilliantly done.
Highly, highly recommend this book. On pre-sale here and available widely on June 9th. Just in time for Father’s Day!
It was super fun talking with Darby on our Substack Live last Monday. Video link HERE if want to watch!
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.