Men, Caregiving, and the Opportunities for and Barriers to Meaningful Involvement

Join Brigid Schulte and Haley Swenson of Better Life Lab at New America for a virtual presentation and discussion of their new nationally representative research on men and caregiving, followed by a panel discussion featuring caregiving men. Conducted in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, the 2026 Men and Care survey explores how men across generations show up as caregivers for children, aging parents, partners, and friends, and what helps or hinders them in doing so.

The research examines how men’s involvement in caregiving compares with women’s, who sees themselves as a caregiver, and how attitudes about gender, work, and family shape what men feel able to do. It also examines the barriers that caregivers say stand in their way, from workplace pressures to the sense that others don’t trust them to provide care because of their gender. The findings point to real openings for change, including among younger men, and to the policies, workplace practices, and cultural narratives that could turn willingness into meaningful involvement.

This event will take place on Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. EST. The session will include a presentation of key findings, followed by a moderated panel featuring three caregiving men, and audience questions.

Presenters:

Brigid Schulte, Better Life Lab

Haley Swenson, Better Life Lab

Panel:

Mohan Sivalogonathan, Dads for All

Shannon Carpenter, stay-at-home dad

Carlos Olivas, elder caregiver