Stock photos permeate what we see on the Internet every day, and Getty Images is one of the most popular online photo sources. This Father’s Day, we’re excited about their collaboration with Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In Together campaign. Together, they’re working together to create and spread images of men as fathers in caregiving positions, such as reading with their kids, cradling a baby, or doing laundry.
Last year, Getty created over 2000 images of women in more empowering roles than in typical stock photos; this year, they followed up with an equally important campaign. With an increasing amount of stay-at-home dads (and maybe less pressure for traditional masculinity?!), these photos couldn’t come at a better time.
And the public wants photos like these, too. “In 2007, the top-selling image of a fatherhood globally was an image of a man playing football with his son,” Pam Grossman, director of visual trends at Getty Images, told Adweek. “You can’t get any more gender-normative than that. Whereas our top-selling image of a father this year, so far, is a man with his daughter sitting and reading together.”
We’re thrilled that so many people want to see more men in roles that aren’t traditionally masculine. And it’s great that a mainstream source like Getty Images is meeting this demand and allowing people to see themselves and their changing families in the media. As it says on the Lean In Together site, “Children with involved fathers are happier, healthier, and more successful.” Although in the past, the influence dads have on their sons has been emphasized, they have significant impact on the development of their daughters (and all the non-binary kids out there), too.
Father’s Day is the perfect time to “celebrate men leaning in.” Thanks to #LeanInTogether for giving us the opportunity!
Images via Getty Images
