A crisis of masculinity - give me a break

A survey suggests the way fathers are portrayed in popular culture may be eroding their status as role models — so maybe it’s apt that, as I begin writing this piece, I am drinking a yoghurt from the carton because I couldn’t be bothered trying to find a spoon.

The survey by British parenting site Netmums does make for interesting reading, with 93% of parents agreeing that the portrayal of dads in the media does not accurately reflect their contribution within their families, while almost half of those questioned said books, advertisements and programmes such as The Simpsons could make children believe dads are “useless”.

Frankly, I’m not sure what to make of it. Every other weekend there is an article regarding the apparently never-ending ‘crisis of masculinity’, alongside debate over absent fathers and the shortage of male role models.