Just the other day I was given the opportunity to try and answer an impossible question. The question was thus: Just how are men and masculinity represented in the media and how does this reinforce stereotypes or, indeed, reflect positively on men.
As a former journalist, I feel pain when people say you shouldn’t believe what’s in the news. Sometimes, however, I have to concede that news reporters get things a bit wrong. One example was a series of recent news reports about a decline in the number of stay at home dads.
As some of you will be aware, I recently accepted an invitation to join the judging panel of this year’s Pitman Training SuperAchievers Awards. As one of the judges, I am now calling upon you to help make these awards a real success.
Do you know a ‘Super Achiever’, a mum or dad who has somehow managed to strike that elusive balance between work and family life? If so, you have the opportunity to put them forward for a special award and I’m delighted to say I will be one of the judges.
Shared parental leave is a subject I’ve written about many times in the past. Although the rules that were eventually introduced to update maternity and paternity leave fell short of what many hoped, it’s introduction was necessary. It was a big step in the right direction for creating better equality in the workplace and home.
