As a high schooler in the mid-60’s I recall my astonishment at hearing that in Scandinavian society it was not unusual that male members of married couples might voluntarily take on the role of “house-husband”, doing housework and looking after children, while their wives pursued their careers. As I recall, I presumed that a) Scandinavian men were not concerned with income or social status that come with earning a steady income and having a prestigious job, compared to Americans, and b) Scandinavian women must be paid far better than American women. My mother, a widow, supported us with a full-time career-track job, and earned a salary that was somewhat less than that earned by her male counterparts. I believe both suppositions were at least as true as any generalization can be.
As a high schooler in the mid-60’s I recall my astonishment at hearing that in Scandinavian society it was not unusual that male members of married couples might voluntarily take on the role of “house-husband”, doing housework and looking after children, while their wives pursued their careers. As I recall, I presumed that a) Scandinavian men were not concerned with income or social status that come with earning a steady income and having a prestigious job, compared to Americans, and b) Scandinavian women must be paid far better than American women. My mother, a widow, supported us with a full-time career-track job, and earned a salary that was somewhat less than that earned by her male counterparts. I believe both suppositions were at least as true as any generalization can be.
Note to self: This is part II.