---
title: "Happy Father’s Day, Love Mom"
description: "Fully 72% of married moms who work say dads are now doing as good a job or better than their counterparts did a generation ago."
date: "2009-06-15"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2009/06/15/happy-fathers-day-love-mom/"
categories:
  - "Household Structure & Family Roles"
  - "Motherhood & Fatherhood"
  - "Parenthood"
---

# Happy Father’s Day, Love Mom

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](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/510/fathers-day)