Doyin Richards knows firsthand how a single image, full of contradictions, can challenge a person's deeply held beliefs.
Richards became the subject of a viral controversy in 2014, a few months after he posted a photo of himself fixing his older daughter's hair while her younger sibling rested on Richards' chest in a baby carrier.
The Internet didn't know what to make of Richards styling his daughter's hair while wearing another baby -- on paternity leave, no less. The response was overwhelming and sent Richards, founder of the website Daddy Doin' Work, on dozens of radio, print and television interviews.
Since then Richards has become the preeminent spokesman for modern fatherhood, and he continues to test people's stereotypes of masculinity by posting photos of himself and other fathers to social media.
"I like seeing disruption," Richards tells Mashable. "When I see something like a man engaging his daughter, playing dress-up with his daughter; a dad reading to his son; a son crying and dad's hugging him. I like seeing [gender roles] disrupted in imagery."
A few years ago Richards might have been a lone voice, but others are paying attention. Getty Images and Lean In, a nonprofit organization founded by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg that focuses on gender equality, partnered last year to create stock images that don't peddle the same tired stereotypes about the role of men and women at home and at work.
#Halloween at @gigglesnhugs! The place to be. pic.twitter.com/riFrSBnCKT— Doyin Richards (@daddydoinwork) November 1, 2014
In the last three years, searches for "dad changing diaper" are have skyrocketed, according to Getty. Sales of photos with the keywords "modern dad" and "stay-at-home dad" increased by 450% during that same time period.
Just in time for Father's Day, the collection has added more images that show capable fathers engaged not only with their children, but also the daily tasks of running a household.
Richards, who always welcomes more racial and ethnic diversity in such images, applauded efforts to change depictions of fatherhood.
"I just want my girls to understand that traditional gender roles are just becoming so incredibly antiquated," says Richards. "I put 100% effort into everything I do, and I want my daughters to know they can expect that men do these things. I don’t want them to ever think that men don’t do dishes or do household chores or baby wear or change diapers."
We couldn't have put it any better. Now, take a look at seven of the best photos from Getty and Lean In, and be inspired.
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