Young men opting out of traditional adulthood embrace the “trad son” lifestyle
- Oct 26
- 3 min read
26 October 2025
In 2025 a curious new social-media phenomenon has emerged and is gaining traction among young men in their twenties and thirties. Known as the “trad son,” the trend refers to those who live at home with their parents, often rent-free, and assume domestic responsibilities while eschewing the conventional march toward independence and career-driven adulthood.
The term “trad son” was born on TikTok and other platforms this year, and it describes men who prioritize comfort, convenience and household tasks over moving out, taking on full-time employment and paying rent. One example that helped bring the trend to national attention: Brendan Liaw, a political-science graduate who appeared on the game-show Jeopardy! in May and referred to himself as a “stay‐at‐home son.”
Unlike the “tradwife” trend in which women embrace domestic-life roles often in place of paid employment the “trad son” defies expectation by combining living at home with household support rather than supporting a partner. These young men might catalogue their cooking, cleaning and maintenance of the home their parents still manage, all while their parents continue to provide the major expenses like utilities, mortgage or rent, and grocery bills.
Several individuals have styled their day-to-day lives around the concept. For example in Las Vegas, one young man moved back in with his mother after quitting a high-paying door-to-door sales job. He described his new routine as the “dream gig,” dedicating his time to household management while his mother, a flight attendant, covers the bills. “I still call him my hub-son,” she said.
Meanwhile in Chicago another “trad son”, Abdullah Abbasi, has built a small business around the lifestyle launching a clothing line with the tagline “Doing nothing is hard,” and catering to the growing meme-driven fan base of the trend. He states that while some of his friends work 80-hour weeks chasing big money this is his preferred route: less external pressure, more time at home.
Supporters of the movement argue it represents a rejection of outdated gender norms and the pressure on young men to become breadwinners immediately. They say it opens a space for alternative adult roles: staying home, contributing to the household in non-monetary ways and delaying or rejecting rent and mortgage obligations. Therapists note that in a world of economic instability and shifting job markets many young men may feel more secure staying in the parental home for longer rather than trying to navigate uncertain career paths.
Critics however raise red flags. Some suggest that the “trad son” trope reinforces dependency and fails to promote personal growth, financial literacy or autonomy. Others worry about how the dynamic may affect relationships one young man admitted he knows telling a potential romantic partner “I live with my mom” might be a hurdle when it comes to dating.
Because the trend intersects with housing affordability, job-market volatility and shifting social norms, several analysts view it less as a lifestyle choice and more as a symptom of broader structural change. With younger generations facing high rents, student-loan burdens and fewer jobs with secure upward mobility, staying in the family home becomes an economic strategy as much as a cultural one.
In essence the “trad son” label helps capture a mindset: adulthood not defined by moving out or earning six-figure salaries but by a different set of adult responsibilities, cooking dinner, doing laundry, driving a parent to work all under the parental roof and often rent-free. It reframes dependency as choice and support rather than failure.
As social media continues to amplify and meme-ify the concept, it remains to be seen whether this trend becomes a more enduring lifestyle path or simply a viral cultural moment. For now, “trad sons” are ready to cook the meal, clean the dishes and let their parents worry about the bills.
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