Most women think that men cling to traditional male roles because it benefits them. Certainly ascending a professional ladder offers more money, power and status than chugging along on a mommy track. But these perks come at a price. In a recent 15-year survey of married American men and women between the ages of 18 and 32, Christin Munsch of the University of Connecticut found that men typically reported being in the best health during the years they split the burdens of breadwinning with their partners. As these men assumed more financial responsibility relative to their wives, their health and wellbeing declined. Often they suffered from the worst health and the most anxiety when their wives were out of the labour force entirely.There is no question that being the sole provider for one's family is stressful. It is almost laughable to compare the difference between being young, single, and unencumbered to being middle-aged, married with children, and responsible for everyone. The stress is constant and can only be mitigated, never eliminated. Even when one has more money than one needs, the strain of everyone constantly having a hand out and the decisions that necessitates creates an amount of stress.
But then, the way one builds up one's muscles is to stress one's body. This stress is not to be avoided, or lamented, but rather, utilized. It's also why married men tend to outperform men with fewer responsibilities and less stress.
Granted, one can no more handle too much stress than too much weight. An excess of either can literally kill a man. But that doesn't make it something to be feared, merely respected. Being a man is about more than living as long as humanly possible. And building a family is more than worth the price one pays for the privilege.
