35 KHALEEJ TIMES POLL FINDINGS STITCHING 632z 10 COOKING 5238z 27 WEARING PINK 4627z 36 CRYING IN PUBLIC 3529z36 35 MANI- PEDIS 5213z35

35% DO NOT KNOW HOW TO STITCH 2% ENJOY STITCHING or KNITTING 10 % 38 % COOK TO SURVIVE % WEAR IT ONCE IN A WHILE 29% WOULD NOT MIND 13 % GET THEM OFTEN 63% CAN SEW ON BUTTONS DO NOT COOK 52% ENJOY COOKING 27 % WOULD NOT 46% HAVE NO PROBLEM WEARING PINK %

father. “I loved playing with them and now that it’s my own baby, it’s so much more joyful.”

Usman is originally from Pakistan but was raised in the UK. Having come to Dubai five years ago, he worked with a photo studio before choosing to get into freelancing. Which is why it was natural that he be the one to look after the baby when his wife went to work.

“Coming from a country where the men are all out and about, I wasn’t really sure how I would cope,” he admits. “But then I loved every second of it. There are these moments when you’re feeding your baby, and he tugs on your beard or just looks at you and smiles... People will tell you about them, but you can’t comprehend it until you’ve been through it yourself.”

The concept of a stay- at- home dad is hardly anything new. The trend has been on the rise, and this year the 2017 Modern Families Index made headlines when it stated that 48 per cent of millennial dads in the UK are willing to take a pay cut to achieve a better work life balance. Is society more accepting of dads being primary caregivers today?

“My parents are from Pakistan and, in their eyes, it’s a different culture,” admits Usman. “When we were growing up, it was traditional for the woman to be homemakers. But my generation is different. Right now, my parents, inlaws and friends think what we’re doing here is great.”

His advice to other dads out there is to just to just jump right in and embrace all their different facets and interests — no matter if others may perceive it to be feminine. “Once you’ve let go of the idea that men should only do certain things and women should only do certain things, you actually understand what the other sex goes through — and your perspective changes. When you go into something with your partner as an equal, it’s just amazing.”

Usman is currently enjoying every minute he spends with his son, and believes that there is nothing wrong with embracing one’s softer side.

“When I was growing up, I was never one to show my emotions. But then I got married andhadmykid,” hesays. “Sometimes when you’re watching a movie and you see this scene you relate to because you have a kid, there’s nothing wrong with crying. In fact, you get it all out of your system and it feels great.”

Not everyone agrees with them. Paul says crying in public is perfectly acceptable — if one has something stuck in their eye. Michael has no issue with it, but seeing others ‘ in that state of mind’ upsets him. Meanwhile, 36 per cent of men who took the Khaleej Times poll say they have never cried in public as opposed to 35 per cent who have ‘ when something has deeply disturbed them’.

“Again, that’s such a personal thing,” muses Shawn. “Both men and women need to be strong. But there is a place and a time for everything. If the situation really calls for it, it’s not a bad thing to show your emotions. I’ve always said it takes a real man to do that.”

When Michael isn’t working on sets for his job, he’s pursuing other hobbies — playing rugby or photography. Everyone has dimensions to them, he says, and it’s common that he’s ribbed for working in theatre where people assume he’s ‘ prancing about’. “People always judge others and I think it’s the fear of things they don’t know, or maybe it has something to do with insecurity,” he says.

Paul narrates an instance where a friend he knew was teased for collecting Star Wars memorabilia, with jokes of him having a ‘ doll collection’. These instances are common and usually wellintentioned, but one can’t deny that they have a tendency to pigeonhole people.

“I think the danger here is that it just makes things worse,” says Shawn. “You’ll never progress as a society if you put people in boxes. That only limits their creativity and individuality.”

janice@ khaleejtimes. com KEEPING UP WITH TRENDS: Shawn works in public relations and believes everyone should always be well- dressed, groomed and stylish

I think when someone is well put together and looks great — man or woman — they attract attention. People love to talk and judge” —