have men been the primary caregivers of babies or children?

SInce we have been around for millions of years, if it aint happened, it likely will not.

When in the history of man have we used computer and driven cars? Necessity is the mother of invention and things DO change...I don't think men will ever completely take over the role of women as the primary caregiver in any widespread way, but that doesn't mean to say that the roles might become more equitable between the genders--i.e. it will become normalized instead of something people consider unusual (the same way we did in response to women working outside the home).

The workplace was made favorable to women through lawsuits for protections and quotas. At home, unfavorable male behaviors have been harshly punished. Since there isn't a corporate entity to sue in the case of the home, there is little chance that the domestic environment will change to accomodate men. Thus, their personal investment in the home is second to the work role. When women split the task of the NagMaster or even relinquish the role to the man, there is a chance that men will emerge from their caves, which are typically garages or unfinished basements. Do men choose these rooms because they are physically uncomfortable for women, or do women bark them out of the others?

candoxx:

have men been the primary caregivers of babies or children?

SInce we have been around for millions of years, if it aint happened, it likely will not.

That's news to me. I've always been under the impression that all the evidence suggests humans go back to about 200,000 years ago.

I'd also be curious to see how you define "primary caregiver". For most hunter-gatherers and horticulturalists, gender roles were not as well defined as what you're depicting.

KB01:

\That's news to me. I've always been under the impression that all the evidence suggests humans go back to about 200,000 years ago.

I'd also be curious to see how you define "primary caregiver". For most hunter-gatherers and horticulturalists, gender roles were not as well defined as what you're depicting.

Modern humans have been around about 250,000 (possibly as much as 800,000), years with other hominids (also usually referred to as humans) going back much further. Here's a link to a Nature article about a 3.7 million year old human footprint. <link>

More importantly, you won't find an exact point in history where humans "go back to" because evolution is...you know...gradual.

Sorry to be crass, but it will take guys growing tits before this will change. I'm getting a little tired of "the movement" co-opting people's lives to suit their agenda. Find what works for your family and leave "the movement" in the toilet where it belongs.

Men have grown "tits"--it's called baby formula and you can buy it in any store.

I know you're trying to be witty, but there's no wit to be had in being obtuse.

Your labels are no less damaging than those you'd wise to escape.

Uh...okay....sure.

This has nothing to do with the workplace being made favorable to women through lawsuits for protections or quotas. It has to do with the fact that women have historically broken into the workforce in the more low-wage service industry jobs (that cannot be outsourced) and men holding the high-wage manufacturing sector jobs (that can be outsourced). A low-wage worker in India can make car parts that get sent to America for purchase. A low-wage worker in India cannot wipe feces off the butt of a 85 year old guy in a nursing home, or serve you coffee in the local restaurant.

What about this article makes relevant the typical "the feminist movement has crapped all over men" rhetoric?

It doesn't. Some people just refuse to read before they speak. They speak before they understand what it is that they're talking about, and they don't think about what it is that they're actually saying. These people are what we call "morons," but they get very angry when you call them by their proper name. However, don't think that any amount of logical or rational speech can ever get them to do what is impossible to them (which is to think about an issue (thoughtfully) or to see beyond whatever psychological issue it is that is feeding their irrationality.

I.e. don't waste your breath. Just call them what they are (morons), be glad that their stupidity stops them from ever doing anything that makes any significant social difference, and move on.

Mercadia:

"Men have grown "tits"--it's called baby formula and you can buy it in any store."

Mercadia, I love that statement!

If you're thinking of other primate species I want to remind you that yes, the females are taking care of the babies (except in case of baboons and a few other species where male "friends" who are not the youngs fathers will help raise them and adopt them if the mother dies), but females are not "taking care" of the males. They are not cooking for them, doing their laundry, cleaning their toilets, doing grocery shopping etc etc etc. Only in our species do males commend the labor of females and strongly object when there is a slight change in that pattern...

My impression is that when men claim they are not interested in such stupid things as a clean toilet they are really using a passive/aggressive method to insure that a woman will do the job. My unfortunate experience is that men get pissed off (sorry for the pun!) when women don't keep the house in the same state the men's mothers did...

I'm also aghast at the description of the marriages of some of the posters. They seem so very sad, so utterly lacking in romance and affection and intimacy --which might explain why a husband would trade a chore to see his wife naked. Good grief, do those people have sex with their clothes on?

More importantly, you won't find an exact point in history where humans "go back to" because evolution is...you know...gradual.

.........and the stupidest theory to try to define how we came into existence. Plus another one that is even stupidor is Big Bang Theory.......again so dang on stupid...... I always say with regard to Science and that is, "Science is the study of what GOD has already created and perfected" Man is still scrambling around trying to figure out His work. No offence intended but it just seems more viable that we and all that is living was created by an super intelligent creative force that man itself is an off-shoot of. See how we create and discover...? It makes sense to me anyway. Besides, I believe it is good therapy for man to admit that there is a force greater than himself.