I was at the airport recently, shopping at the Hudson News News-stand for a few magazines for my flight. It was hard to not stare at the section of magazines titled “Women’s Interest (pictured).” Front and center were popular parenting magazines – Parents, Parenting, and Redbook among the Bridal Magazines. I realize that shelf space is at a premium at small newstands, but it’s not the point – aren’t parenting magazines men’s interests as well?
For the record, @Jasonfitch916 said he saw a similar display at Borders Books as well.
Now, I am not trying to whine and complain about this – I can accept it. However, I do like to bring topics like this into the open so we can move the conversation of involved parenthood (that includes fathers) forward a little bit.
I used to be concerned about it when we had our first, but I’ve since learned to simply tune them out. I find them more than useless to me, particularly due to the tendency to “write” the father out of the picture. Their time has come and gone.
I’m going to be completely cynical here….but don’t you know that because we have a penis we can’t parent? Why do we need magazines about fatherhood when it’s completely useless, fathers serve no purposes. We have two jobs….make money and stay out of the way!
Ok, I feel better now. I personally don’t feel that way but as a single father, I grow increasingly frustrated at how we are completely shut out on the topic of parenting.
If I didn’t know differently one would be inclined to believe we were threatening the establishment.
Parenting magazines, as they currently exist, are completely useles for dads. They are not written for us. The only magazine I’ve seen that’s even gender neutral is Time Out Kids. The rest are for moms even if they say parents. That’s why they are where they are.
Fathers are just as important in their child’s life as much as the mother is. I have chosen to display the importance with a photo journal just for us Fathers.
http://www.forfathersproject.org/photo