---
title: "Being a Father is More Difficult Today"
description: "Fully 63% of fathers say, compared with 20 or 30 years ago, it is more difficult being a father today. Only about half of mothers agree."
date: "2011-07-19"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/07/19/being-a-father-is-more-difficult-today/"
---

# Being a Father is More Difficult Today

Most fathers say they have a tougher time raising children today than did the fathers of a generation ago. Fully 63% of fathers say it is more difficult being a father today compared with 20 or 30 years ago. Just 9% of fathers say they have an easier job today, while a quarter (26%) say today’s fathers are doing a better job than their fathers did.About one-third of adults overall(34%) say fathers are doing a worse job, and 40% say they are doing about the same job.. Opinion is split on whether fathers play a greater role in the lives of children compared with fathers 20 or 30 years ago. Among all adults, 46% say fathers play a greater role now and 45% say they play less of a role now. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/2026/survey-role-of-fathers-fatherhood-american-family-living-apart-from-children)