Many Oklahoma men find roles reversed

Karina Shreffler, assistant professor of human development and family science at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, said economic stress and job losses are one of the most difficult things families face.

"Men define themselves by their jobs. It’s a point of identification, but particularly for men,” Shreffler said.

Shreffler said job losses and role reversals such as those being seen now often coincide with higher rates of divorce, domestic violence, depression and poverty.

"But it does have the possibility of making the population more egalitarian. With women making more money, they earn more influence,” she said.

She said many men are now taking on the stay-at-home dad role, but some women don’t like this shift.

"Sometimes women don’t appreciate the role as breadwinner. Even though most households have two earners, women still do the majority of the housework,” she said.

VALLERY BROWN,

Staff Writer