Traditionally, the overwhelming majority of American men have been the primary income providers for their families. This trend is reversing. According to a June 5 Pew report, more women are out-earning the man of the house than ever.

In 1960, men accounted for 89.2 percent of the primary breadwinners. By 2011, that figure had plummeted to 59.6 percent. Now, according to an October report from the Executive Office of the President of the United States, “[m]ore than 40 percent of mothers are now the sole or primary source of income for the household.”

America has never seen so many of its men staying at home to care for children instead of building careers outside the home. According to another Pew study, 2 million dads now stay home compared with 1.1 million in 1989. In 1989, 5 percent stayed home primarily for child care. In 2012, men staying at home for child care rose to 21 percent—a 320 percent increase.

Some blame exorbitant day-care costs. Claims arise that in-home daddy day care is more cost effective. Chris Tecala, who worked in the audio visual field for a hospitality company, said, “My salary equaled the cost of the yearly day care of two non-potty-trained infants, which was about $40,000 a year.” He continued, “I would be working just for someone else to watch my kids and it just didn’t make sense.”

Although some men claim rising day care costs keep them at home, many men have simply lost the desire to cultivate their skills and pursue careers. They are content to stay home while the wife earns money. This trend can partially be attributed to more women graduating college than men.

Today’s society increasingly views the roles of breadwinning, child care and homemaking as interchangeable, equally suitable for any family member inclined to fulfill them. It is important to recognize, however, that such thinking is a socially revolutionary change from what has been the predominant family structure for virtually all human history across nearly all cultures. It could accurately be considered a major social experiment.

What will result? It is difficult to gauge, particularly because this trend is occurring alongside several others that are fracturing long-held views of the composition of families and the roles men and women play within them.

Society is casting aside traditional views on the assumptions that they are outdated and irrelevant and that there will be no negative consequences. However, mounting evidence shows these changes are having a devastating effect on the stability both of individual families and society as a whole.

To learn more about the rise of women in the workplace, the retreat of men, and the ramifications of this trend on society, read “The Incredible Shrinking Man.”