Modern fathers are taking a more active role in the lives of their children, but the effort is not always appreciated by society. While mothers have historically complained when fathers are absent, they are sometimes not quick to relinquish or share the caretaking role.

Child custody cases in New York and elsewhere throughout the country that are the result of a divorce, are seeing fathers are more frequently seeking sole custody. According to Working Mother magazine, in 50 percent of those cases, the father will win sole custody. The number of fathers with sole custody has doubled in the past decade.

According to some experts, the increase in active fathers is due to a breakdown of gender roles. Fathers are more active in the daily lives of their children and are unwilling to give up that role if the marriage falls apart. Many seek primary or 50 percent custody. Of the approximately 1.8 million single-father families, 46 percent are divorced and 19 percent are separated.

An estimated 2 million men are primarily stay-at-home dads while their significant other works. Many say that, thanks to the poor economy, men have been staying home with the kids more often, whether they want to or not. While stay-at-home dads may face a slight stigma when taking their daughter to midday ballet lessons, single fathers face an even greater prejudice.

Though it may be normal for mothers to be active in extracurricular or other activities, men are suspect when volunteering in classrooms or trying to join a playgroup. As one stay-at-home dad said, it's "bad for men to be interested in other children." While a girls' sleepover may be fine with mom, with dad, it's a little creepy.

One single mom has said that a divorced dad should not be viewed as a "visitor," or an outsider, but the head of a separate family. She has called for more mediation to help families separate into two families, not one family with a parent who visits.

Source: Huffington Post, "Fathers: Equal In Marriage But Not In Divorce?" Vicki Larson, Dec. 14, 2011