We all know dads change diapers too. So where are all the diaper changing tables? Not in the men’s washroom, that’s for sure.
The gender imbalance was a hard truth to come by when Ashton Kutcher went on a father-daughter outing with his newborn Wyatt and found no diaper changing stations in any of the men’s washrooms. The new dad then took this frustration to Facebook writing, “There are NEVER diaper changing stations in mens public restrooms. The first public men’s room that I go into that has one gets a free shout out on my FB page! #BeTheChange.”
Kutcher has yet to find one of these diaper stations but has sparked quite the conversation online with his post, garnering almost 240,000 likes and 11, 000 comments. Many dads sympathized with Kutcher, some saying they’ve had to resort to changing their baby’s diaper on the washroom floor because of the complete lack of accommodation.
What makes Kutcher’s comment so significant is that it showcases how gender stereotypes still exist in the realm of parenting on both sides. But as we all know they’re not true, especially when we live in a time where parenting roles are unique to every family. When it comes to something as simple as changing diapers, we know that Dads out there do it too. So when they’re out with their little ones, no dad should have to worry about where they can change their child’s diaper. And they definitely shouldn’t have to resort to changing it on the floor or the trunk of their car.
Sure family washrooms exist and diaper stations can be found in some men’s washrooms—but the truth of the matter is, there’s definitely not enough of them. There’s still a major disproportion and I think we can all agree, that needs to change.
Ironically, Kutcher’s post coincided perfectly with the #smelfie trend growing across social media—a selfie trend showing dads changing their baby’s diapers. Just in case we were ever in doubt, but yes—Dads do it too!
Wife gave baby a green smoothie. It came out looking exactly the same. #smelfie #realmenchangenappies pic.twitter.com/SiLxwuSSaR
— Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) March 11, 2015
Champion Uncle RT @SingleCatDad: My niece and I took a #smelfie and neither of us are happy about it @BuzzFeed pic.twitter.com/pt08X5UzJ9
— Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) March 9, 2015
This is my favourite ever #smelfie RT @ColinPatrick80: @adamhillscomedy #smelfie pic.twitter.com/vdC9ABfCwX
— Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) March 7, 2015
The way it’s been done in places I’ve been is you have “mens” “womens” and “babies” rooms. The important thing is you have a nappy to change, and there’s a room set aside with bench space, taps, sinks, and benches, and the baby changing is not a role relegated to one sex or gender.