The Rise of Trad Sons: Embracing Domesticity in a Modern World
A new cultural trend known as the "trad son" has emerged on social media in 2025. This trend involves young men in their 20s or 30s who choose to live with their parents, taking on domestic responsibilities typically associated with stay-at-home partners. One example is Luke Parkhurst from Las Vegas, who moved back in with his mother, Patty, after quitting his high-paying job. He now manages household chores while Patty works as a flight attendant, describing it as his "dream job."
The term "trad son" describes young men who live at home with their parents without working full-time or contributing financially, focusing on a domestic lifestyle. Unlike traditional expectations of adulthood, trad sons prioritize comfort, convenience, and household responsibilities. The trend gained national attention when Brendan Liaw, introduced as a "stay-at-home son" on Jeopardy!, joked about being called a loiterer and later enrolled in law school.
The trend has gained popularity on platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where videos and memes either celebrate or mock the lifestyle. Supporters argue that it challenges outdated gender norms, while critics question its implications for personal growth. The "tradwife" trend, which celebrates women embracing domestic roles, is related but different from the "trad son" trend, as trad sons focus on domestic tasks within the family home rather than supporting a partner.
Several men, including Luke Parkhurst and Abdullah Abbasi, have embraced the trad son lifestyle. Parkhurst spends his days managing household chores while living rent-free with his mother, acknowledging the potential impact on his dating life. Abbasi has turned his trad son lifestyle into a business with his clothing line, Stay At Home Sons, aiming to bring trad sons together through fashion. Despite societal expectations, these men find fulfillment in their chosen lifestyle, viewing it as a luxury.