For the first time, men on the Oscars red carpet were asked a very specific question.

Did you know that once the egg has been fertilised, the father’s parenting duties are basically done?

Yes, we know that’s far from true but if you went solely by interviews during Award seasons you’d be forgiven for thinking so.

Listen to Mia Freedman, Laura Brodnik, Brittany Stewart and Monique Bowley debrief on the 2017 Oscars. Post continues below. 

Questions about parenting – most notably “How do you juggle it all?” – have in the past been strictly reserved for the female attendees.

There’s a welcome change afoot at this year’s Oscar’s red carpet interviews. (Post continues after gallery.)

Yes, the women (and men) are still being asked about what they’re wearing and interviewers are still putting their foot in it (literally) but excitement and curiosity about babies is no longer just the domain of women.

It’s a small change that means a great deal, and it’s heartwarming to see.

When E! Red Carpet host Ryan Seacrest got hold of Best Actor nominee Mahershala Ali, the first question he asked was about juggling – and not the circus kind.

Image: E!

Ali stars in not one but two Oscar nominated films this year, Moonlight and Hidden Figures and also had his first child just four days ago.

"I'm a very special kind of tired right now. It's amazing though. I'm very grateful, it's been a good time," he told Seacrest.

"[My baby daughter] arrived on the 22nd and now we're here. It worked out, she was running late, she was supposed to be here like the 13th [of February] so I was starting to get concerned but she's here, she's healthy and we're happy."

Seacrest said he couldn't figure out how Ali managed to do it all, with the two films and a TV series in New York.

Listen: We talk the hard topics in our parenting podcast, This Glorious Mess. Post continues after audio.

"How did you fit it all in and how do you do it in the head?" he asked.

"I have a wonderful manager and she put that schedule together for me and she said 'Look, do you think you can do it? I'm a little concerned about you.' But I felt like I just had to do it, I had a good feeling about the projects and how they fit together and the challenge of it itself.

"I think I'm pretty good at compartmentalizing and just being focused on the thing I am doing at that moment and it worked out. I'm really grateful for the experience."

He was gushing - and equally as passionate about talking about his daughter as he was his incredible career achievements. Who knew?

Pharrell Williams, who is nominated for Hidden Figures, also briefly addressed his latest additions. He and his wife, model Helen Lasichanh welcomed triplets at the end of January.

Seacrest gifted Williams with three hand knitted rockets for the babies, which left the singer close to speechless.

"Wow! This is so cool. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever been given on a red carpet before," the 43 year old said.

Pharrell breaks silence on triplets to accept adorable gifts on the #Oscars red carpet https://t.co/3A99AJ4Km5 pic.twitter.com/k2of24qHaf

— People Magazine (@people) February 27, 2017

Earlier this year at the Golden Globes, Ryan Gosling showed the other side of the coin by using his acceptance speech to thank his wife Eva Mendes.

"There is no time to thank everyone, but I just want to try and thank one person properly and say that while I was singing and dancing and playing piano and one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a film, my lady was raising our daughter, pregnant with our second and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer," he said

“If she hadn’t taken all of that on so that I could have this experience, it surely would be somebody else up here today. So sweetheart, thank you."

While many were quick to dub the pair #relationshipgoals, others pointed out that it was still Mendes who was at home while Gosling 'got the glory'. He was being applauded for his shoutout, rather than her for her sacrifice.

It's not about putting these men up on pedestals for doing what is the basic expectation of being a father as well as what women typically do everyday without the shout out.

Parenting comes in so many different forms, with each party equally responsible for their children. However the talk and action from the red carpet shows we're hopefully seeing a shift to reflect this attitude.

Because new parent gushing (and exhaustion) is an adorable privilege everyone should get to enjoy.