A New Era of Daddy Shaming and Chasing Work-Life Balance

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Parents are constantly shamed for their choices. From how we feed our children to how we educate them, everyone has an opinion on how to raise kids. The result? Moms and dads feel endlessly judged for the choices they make even if they have no other options. This week, families around the country are sharing their inspiring, funny, honest, and heartbreaking stories with Yahoo Parenting in an effort to spark conversations, a little compassion, and change in the way we think about parenting forever. Share your story with us #NoShameParenting.

You may know Anne-Marie Slaughter for her viral essay Why Women Still Can’t Have It All published in The Atlantic in 2012, which revealed why she left her high-powered job in Hillary Rodham Clinton’s State Department to spend more time with her family, Now, Slaughter is back with a new book Unfinished Business: Women, Men, Work, Family (published September 29 by Random House).

STORY: So, What Is #NoShameParenting Anyway?

Slaughter sat down with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric to explore the concept of “Daddy shaming,” how to cope with inflexible bosses, and why childless couples need work-life balance too.

“Do you think we’re seeing a new era of ‘Daddy shaming?’ Couric asks Slaughter (above) on the stigma attached to men who take paternity leave.

“It takes courage and confidence for a man to stand up and say, ‘That’s just not my definition of being a man,’” says Slaughter. “Yes, there is daddy shaming like there’s been mommy shaming and I think, enough shaming.”

Slaughter also offered tips for how parents can get through to a boss who doesn’t value work-life balance (hint: couch your request so your manager benefits).

Finally, couples without kids often get excluded from the work-life balance conversation but Slaughter says that women will be better employees when they have the freedom to focus on their passions — exercise, volunteer work reading books — and a well-rounded lifestyle.

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