Becoming Papa, a powerful documentary by To The Contrary Host Bonnie Erbé, will premiere this Father’s Day weekend on PBS. The film travels an arduous journey with two men who live in homes riven with domestic violence as they transition to living violence-free. Erbé calls their remarkable transformations to equal caregiving “the final chapter in feminism.”
American women are much closer to gender parity than they were 40 years ago. Some experts say the final obstacle in the path to equality requires getting men on board. A continent away, in one of the most violent, hyper-macho cultures on earth, men are forsaking machismo and violence both inside and outside the home for involved fatherhood and parenting partnerships. This, in turn, frees women to access education and satisfying careers. Equal caregiving equals gender parity. The solution to the ongoing quest for women’s equality is men doing half the home-care and childcare.
The story is set against the backdrop of Rio’s hyper-masculine, hyper-violent culture. Children are exposed to violence, rampages and murders outside of the home, as well as constant fights inside the home. The documentary follows the work of the international NGO Promundo. It trains men in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas or shantytowns to avoid violence and to become loving caregivers for their children, partners and wives. They also take better care of themselves and excel in their own work lives.
For local airtimes, please visit http://www.pbs.org/to-the-contrary/airdates.
