Is changing diapers only a woman’s role?

Parenting should be a collective effort, even when it comes to changing diapers. However, for fathers (Dads), it seems like an extremely difficult task to perform a diaper change. But with practice and commitment, Dads can master the art. It’s different for mums because, they are born with diaper changing skills which are part of their mothering instincts. Therefore, is it only the woman’s job to change the baby’s diaper? In some societies, if a husband changes the diapers and helps with washing the dishes, a woman considers herself lucky. Rwanda is one of the countries on top of the list for advocating for gender equality—men believe that changing diapers, giving children a bath and feeding them, is not primary a woman’s role alone. With the Rwandan Parliament having 56 percent women representatives, men have accepted that educated women bring money and hence share responsibility. Innocent Kaib, a parent living in Kigali said that normally changing a baby’s diaper calls for collective participation. “At times it’s the mother who changes the diapers more often than the father because of the mother-child bond developed through breast feeding. I don’t have any problem changing my child’s diaper,” Kaib said. The view of Nathan Mugume who works with the Ministry of Health doesn’t differ from Kaib’s. He even knows about the sizes and brands of diapers. “Men who think that changing a diaper is a woman’s role are extremely wrong. I change my children’s the diapers myself,” Mugume said. He explains that one has to know the weight of the baby in order to buy the right size of diapers. “Babies weighing 4 to 8Kgs, one should buy the small sized diapers while those weighing 8 to 19kgs, should get medium sized diapers to fit them well,” Mugume explained. Natasha Mucureezi, a presenter at Contact F.M said that changing diapers is not entirely a woman’s job. “It depends on who is doing what? If I’m cooking and my husband is doing nothing at all, there would be no problem if he changes our child’s diaper,” Mucureezi said. Mucureezi says that, “If a man can solve business deals or risk his life for his country, he cannot fail to change a diaper.” Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk