This Is Us? How TV Does and Doesn’t Get Men’s Caregiving

A man and a young girl are cozily sitting together; he's reading to her from a tablet. Their expressions are focused and tender—a snapshot of a family moment.

Analyzing 225 TV shows, our study reveals a shift towards more men in caregiving roles, yet often depicted as flawed. Urging for balanced, realistic portrayals, we advocate breaking gender stereotypes to inspire future storytelling in caregiving narratives.