Father’s Day is a little more well deserved these days than it was a generation ago; majorities of both men (59%) and women (62%) say today’s dads have a tougher time now than fathers did 20 or 30 years ago. But today’s dads aren’t willing to pat themselves on the back for the extra effort. In fact, only 41% of men say today’s fathers match or better the performance of the dads of the 1970s and ’80s, while 55% say they’re doing a worse job. Women, in general, are far more supportive; 56% say today’s dads are doing as good a job or better in raising their kids compared with fathers a generation ago. But the real support for today’s fathers comes from those who may know and appreciate dads the best: married moms who work at least part-time and are raising young children. An overwhelming 72% of these moms say today’s dads are doing as good a job or better. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.