Father's Perspective: Factors Considered When Choosing to Enter a Stay-at-Home Father and Working Mother Relationship

The emergence of stay-at-home fathers (SAHFs) challenges the traditional societal gender division of labor in which men work outside the home while women manage the household. This new form of fatherhood profoundly impacts families' long-term development. Although SAHFs are a significant topic in western fatherhood research, they have received relatively little attention from domestic scholars. This paper uses grounded theory to analyze the motivations and practical experiences of 22 Chinese SAHFs through in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that there are multiple reasons for becoming a SAHF. Economic factors are the primary consideration, followed by career constraints or transitions, direct childcare needs, and personal strengths. Based on these motivations, the interviewers can be categorized as value-consistent, compromise-driven, and hybrid, demonstrating a degree of dynamic mobility. The study also emphasizes the significant impact of intersecting gender and class dynamics. Middle-class families tend to make active choices based on economic benefits and ideals of gender equality, whereas low-income families often transition into this role due to employment constraints or social pressures.