A few weeks ago, the Dallas Morning News ran a front-page story titled “Daddy’s New Job.” It explained that the number of stay-at-home dads is increasing due to the economic recession. Because of lay offs in construction, manufacturing, and other traditional male bastions, 80% of the people who lost jobs in the last year were men. Another article in the same paper reported that “Companies with female managers are more profitable.”

What does this mean for men? What does the future hold in store for the gender? The silver lining in our economic storm may be some positive changes for men.

Sweeping social change often follows a period of crisis. The very first government assistance program followed the devastation of the Civil War. During the Great Depression, when many families failed through no fault of their own, Social Security and other social programs were born. The modern fight for civil rights was in part triggered by WWII, when the military began the integration of troops. The same World War led to the unprecedented prosperity of the 50’s and 60’s via the GI Bill for the returning veterans. The economic gloom of the 1970’s may have been as responsible for the dramatic increase of women in the workplace as were no-fault divorces and the Women’s Rights movement.

Just last year, while most of us were struggling to put gas in our cars, some “experts” proclaimed that $5 gas would be good for America because it would lead to alternative energy sources, greater conservation, and less pollution. From crisis, positive social change often grows.

The current economic crisis may accelerate changes that will affect men. Quietly, over the last generation, women have made significant educational gains compared to men. There are more women than men attending and graduating from college now and girls outscore boys academically in public school. While men’s earning power is still significantly greater than women’s, income levels for women are rising. In realistic terms, women are gaining power in society.

It appears that as our society evolves and women come closer to educational and vocational parity with men, a re-evaluation of the male gender role is required. Does it make sense to hang on to beliefs that dictate that men must be the breadwinners of the family? The authoritarians? The disciplinarians? The sole decision makers?

Or, do these economic and social changes present opportunities for men to grow? To become more focused on family life? To enter into true partnerships with their life mates? To spend more time parenting? To realize that jobs and careers are not the only things that are important?

What do you think will be the lasting effects of this recession for men? Will it be positive or negative? How are you and other men weathering this tough economy? Drop me an e-mail and let me know what you think. We may revisit the topic in the near future.

Mark Sandel is an Associate Professor of Social Work in the College of Arts and Sciences at TWU. He welcomes comments or suggestions for future columns at msandel@twu.edu