What is a Trad Son? All about the trend

In 2025, a new cultural phenomenon gains traction on social media: “translation audio.”

This trend involves young men choosing to live with their parents, often rent-free, and taking on household responsibilities typically associated with stay-at-home partners.

A notable example is Luke Parkhurst from Las Vegas. After quitting his high-paying door-to-door sales job, Parkhurst moved back in with his mother, Patty. He now spends his days tending to household chores – grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and routine home maintenance – while Patty works as a flight attendant. Parkhurst describes this arrangement as her “dream job,” and Patty has no objections.

“He’s my baby,” she told him New York Post in October 2025 and further explained that she doesn’t mind covering all their bills and household expenses. “I love taking care of people – and he’s been very helpful (around the house). I call him my hub son.”

Here’s everything to know about the term “trad son” and how it became popular online.

What is a trad son?

A “trad son” is a term that has emerged from social media to describe a young man – usually in his 20s or 30s – who lives at home with his parents, often without working full-time or contributing financially, while adopting a domestic lifestyle.

Contrary to traditional expectations of adulthood, trad sons – like the Leigh brothers on TikTok — prioritizing comfort, convenience and household responsibility.

Brendan Liaw brought the trend into the national spotlight with his appearance on Danger! in May 2025. Host Ken Jennings introduced Liaw, who has a master’s degree in political science, as a “home son,” to which he replied, “It’s a pretty good gig, but I’m worried I’ll be called a vagrant at some point.”

However, Liaw was never fully committed to being a trad son; he just thought the title sounded better than being unemployed, according to a subsequent interview with ABC News Live. He has since enrolled in law school at the University of British Columbia.

“I really threw it out as a little joke; I don’t want to be permanently associated with the face of unemployment forever,” he told Vanity Fair in October 2025. “But I think it’s fun that we get to talk about what it’s like to be a young man navigating the job market right now.”

The trend has taken hold on platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where videos and memes either celebrate or mock the lifestyle. Supporters of the trend argue that this lifestyle challenges outdated gender norms, while critics question its implications for personal growth. Fox News’ Laura Ingraham called them “men in decline,” per Vanity Fair.

“There’s a lot of anxiety among men in their 20s and 30s today. There’s a lot of uncertainty and instability. Most young people haven’t really found themselves yet,” family therapist Kathryn Smerling told New York Post. “For some, being at home is comforting. They feel safe and secure with their parents in a very conflicted world.”

Are trad sons related to tradwives?

Yes, the concepts are related, but they represent very different lifestyles.

The “tradwife” trend celebrates women who embrace clandestine roles — often staying home to raise children, manage the household and support a working husband. Some see this as a conscious rejection of career-driven pressures, while others see it as a return to historical gender norms.

The “trad son” trend is in some ways a male counterpart – but with a twist.

Unlike tradwives, trad sons do not support or manage a household for a partner; instead, they live rent-free with their parents and focus on domestic duties within the family home.

Who are some famous trad sons?

Several men have received attention for adopting the “trad son” lifestyle, including Parkhurst. After leaving a high-pressure sales job, he returned to his mother’s home, where he spends his days cooking, cleaning and running the household.

“This has been my dream job since I was a little kid,” he shared New York Pose.g. “My mom is at work right now. She covers everything, and I stay home.”

However, he is well aware that his “stay-at-home son” title has the potential to negatively affect his dating life.

“If I ever want to get into a relationship, I know I can’t say to a woman, ‘By the way, I have a roommate, and that’s my mom,'” he admitted.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Abdullah Abbasi has parlayed his traditional son’s lifestyle into a business. When he’s not driving his dad to meetings or his sister to meetings, he’s running his burgeoning clothing line, Stay At Home Sons, which has the tagline, “Doing nothing is hard.”

“The clothes resonate with a lot of people,” Abdullah shared New York Post. “It’s about bringing (trad sons) together through fashion.”

He continued, “I have friends who work 80 hours to make big money and enjoy their independence. But this is the path that I prefer. This lifestyle is a luxury.”