#NGMThoughts 17: Gender Equity…

…cuts both ways! As much as we need more women in leadership roles and STEM education/fields, we need more men in caregiving roles such as early childhood education and nursing.

A path to this is reducing stigma and encouraging more men to take paternity leave. Boys generally won’t gravitate towards caretaking roles unless they see their fathers (or other male role models) in those roles.

My own father adjusted his working schedule to 7–3 to take me to all my basketball, and now acts as primary caregiver to my partially disabled mother and grandmother afflicted with Alzheimer’s. His nature was part of my nurture.

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Written by Next Gen Men Co-Founder Jake Stika as part of a personal challenge to share some of our reflections around what it means to be a better man in today’s day and age. Join us every Friday for NGM Thoughts.