The Evolving History of Fatherhood: Love and Power

Fatherhood hasn’t always looked like bedtime stories and school runs. In this episode, we trace its astonishing evolution—from ancient societies where fathers held near-absolute power, to medieval and early modern theories that ranged from philosophical to outright strange, to colonial laws that entrenched cruelty for male advantage. Today, DNA testing, shifting gender roles, and hands-on parenting have reshaped fatherhood into something more nurturing and egalitarian—at least for some. Yet a widening class divide means many less-educated men are increasingly absent from family life, fueling frustration and social fallout. What does the long arc of fatherhood tell us about power, gender, and the changing shape of modern family life?https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/05/15/why-the-best-time-to-be-a-dad-is-now