Dr Robin A Hadley | Manchester Metropolitan University (original) (raw)

Videos by Dr Robin A Hadley

This is a broadcast by Civilla Morgan who hosts the Childless Not By Choice (CNBC) podcast. Her m... more This is a broadcast by Civilla Morgan who hosts the Childless Not By Choice (CNBC) podcast. Her mission is to recognize and speak to the broken hearts of childless not by choice women, and men, around the world. Her aim is to show that CNBC people can live a joyful, relevant, and fulfilled life; although they could not, did not, have the children we so wanted.
October 9, 2017

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Papers by Dr Robin A Hadley

Berghahn Books, Sep 8, 2022

Methodological Innovations, May 2, 2020

There is an absence of literature on the dynamics of men interviewing men generally and particula... more There is an absence of literature on the dynamics of men interviewing men generally and particularly, on sensitive subjects. Childless men are, compared to women, absent from geographical, gerontological, psychological, reproductive and sociological research. These disciplines have mainly focussed on motherhood, women and family formation. Over the past 15 years, research literature on both involuntary childlessness and ageing has highlighted the paucity of material on men’s experience. Consequently, the fertility intentions, history and experience of men have been overlooked. Infertility research has shown that failure to fulfil the status of parenthood may lead to a complex form of bereavement and is a significant challenge to identity. In this piece, I draw on my experience of conducting an auto/biographical doctoral study on the life experiences of 14 involuntarily childless older men. I briefly explore the literature surrounding research interviews with men participants. I highlight the gender dynamics encountered in both interview and wider academic settings. I identify how danger, harm and risk are present in academic environments such as conferences. I use my experience to illustrate how physical, emotional and ethical dangers affect one’s sense of self. I argue that ethical standards should be applied to all research locations.

Social Science Research Network, 2015

Social Science Research Network, 2018

The implications of the global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing popu... more The implications of the global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing population have been extensively reported. This piece examines the complex intersections between men's experience of involuntary childlessness and agency, structure, and relationships. Childless men are, compared to women, missing from gerontological, sociological, infertility, and psychological research. These fields have mainly focussed on family and women. Feminist studies into infertility and ageing have highlighted the absence of the male experience. Involuntary childlessness has been viewed as a complex bereavement formed by multiple losses. Distress levels in both men and women in this population have been found to be as high those with grave medical conditions. This piece draws on my doctoral study framed by biographical, life course, gerontological and feminist approaches. I explore the factors that influenced the 14 participants' routes to involuntary childlessness. Findings countered the stereotype that fatherhood is not important to men and challenges research that reports that men are not affected by the social, emotional, and relational aspects of involuntary childlessness. I will offer how my research has influenced my own identity.

Social Science Research Network, 2014

ABSTRACT tudies of Ageing Masculinities: Still in Their Infancy? edited by Anna Tarrant and Jacqu... more ABSTRACT tudies of Ageing Masculinities: Still in Their Infancy? edited by Anna Tarrant and Jacqueline H. Watts Sociological and gerontological research concerning men’s ageing remains piecemeal and under - theorised despite recognition of the gendered nature of ageing and burgeoning recognition that older people and their needs are largely absent and less considered in academic and public rhetoric.The contributors to this one - day workshop sought to improve understanding of contemporary men’s ageing by showcasing current research in this area, to forge a multi-disciplinary network of scholars, practitioners and end users interested in men’s ageing, and to generate future research collaborations. No 14 The Representation of Older People in Ageing Research Series A joint series from the Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies at the Open University and the Centre for Policy on Ageing

Social Science Research Network, Dec 1, 2020

The objective of this study was to assess the level of the desire for parenthood (broodiness) in ... more The objective of this study was to assess the level of the desire for parenthood (broodiness) in childless men compared to non-parents and parents. Parenthood brings a high social status. The majority of studies examining reproductive intentions and behaviour have concentrated on women and couples. However, there are very few studies exploring men's desire for fatherhood. This study is a sequential quantitativequalitative mixed-methods online survey on the influences, motivations, and reasons for men and women's desire for parenthood. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive, univariate and bivariate techniques. Qualitative data were analysed using a latent thematic analysis. Recruitment was by the snowball email method. The sample was formed of 232 respondents with a mean age of 41.37 years (SD = 10.83), a central tendency of female, the majority were White British, degree educated, professional, and heterosexual. The main finding identified non-parent females and males showed similar levels of desire for parenthood with females scoring slightly higher than males. A higher number of childless men desired parenthood (51.9%) than did not (25.9%). For non-parents economic and social factors were the main influences on the decision for parenthood. Female and male parents demonstrated an equal desire not to repeat parenthood. The results from this study did not support the hypothesis (and common belief) that men are not interested or affected by the desire for parenthood. Compared to equivalent women, childless men may experience higher levels of depression and isolation.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 1, 2019

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that childhood attachment predicts whether... more The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that childhood attachment predicts whether a person has children in later life. Although being a parent is considered a typical part of the human life cycle in most parts of the world, childlessness has increased substantially in recent decades in developed parts of the world. It is possible that insecure childhood attachment has contributed to this phenomenon, but this hypothesis has been relatively little explored. This study is a cross-sectional survey of 394 men and women aged over 50 years old, stratified by geographical UK region from a research panel, and analysed using hierarchical logistic regression. Validated measures of childhood attachment and other psychological and demographic factors were used. The main finding was that, independent of the impact of other variables (age, sex, education level, marital status, life stress, healthrelated quality of life, mental positivity, and avoidant attachment style), people who were childless were significantly more likely to have developed an anxious attachment to their primary caregiver in childhood. This study is the first to demonstrate the significance of anxious childhood attachment as a predictor of producing children in one's lifetime.

Physical Therapy Reviews, Feb 13, 2021

Abstract Background The global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing popu... more Abstract Background The global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing population has led to increased scrutiny of parenthood. Although there are more childless men than childless women, there is very little research literature on the impact of male childlessness. The childless are absent from much social science literature, which has mainly focussed on family and women. Feminist studies into infertility and ageing have highlighted the absence of the male experience. Involuntary childlessness has been viewed as a complex bereavement formed by multiple losses. Distress levels in both men and women in this population have been found to be as high those with grave medical conditions. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine older men’s experience of involuntary childlessness. Methods This piece draws on my qualitative auto/biographical doctoral study that was framed by biographical, life course, gerontological, and feminist approaches. Data collection involved in-depth semi-structured biographical interviews with 14 self-defined involuntary childless men aged between 49 and 82 years from across the United Kingdom. A latent thematic analysis highlighted the complex intersections between agency, biology, childlessness, economics, mental and physical health, relationships, and socio-cultural structures. Major findings Findings countered the stereotype that men are not interested in reproduction. I argue that that involuntary childlessness should be considered as a significant factor in older men’s poor health and social capital. Conclusions This piece challenges the common narratives that the social, emotional, and relational aspects of involuntary childlessness do not affect men.

This thesis reveals the complexities in older men's experience of involuntary childlessness. Rese... more This thesis reveals the complexities in older men's experience of involuntary childlessness. Research literature on both involuntary childlessness and ageing has highlighted the paucity of material on men's experience. The aim of this study was to explore and understand the impact of childlessness on the lives of older, self-defined, involuntarily childless men. This qualitative study employed a pluralistic framework formed by life course, biographical, and gerontological approaches to explore the lives of 14 men, aged between 49 and 82 years. A broad thematic analysis was applied to the material, and the findings demonstrated the intersections between childlessness and ageing over the life course. Reproductive intentions were affected by many factors including the timing of exiting education, relationship formation and dissolution, and choice of partner. The men's attitude to fatherhood changed with age and centred on the theme of the 'social clock' that revealed the synergy between an individual and societal morès surrounding parenthood. The loss of the assumed father role and relationship ebbed and flowed throughout the men's lives in a form of complex bereavement. Awareness of feeling both a sense of 'outsiderness' and a fear of being viewed as a paedophile were widely reported. Quality of life was linked with current health, and ageing was strongly associated with loss of physical or mental functionality. This thesis supports the case for a biographical method of research drawing on a pluralistic framework. It challenges research that reports men are not affected by the social, emotional and relational aspects of involuntary childlessness. In addition, it adds to the debate between the concepts of 'emergent' and 'hegemonic' masculinities. Recommendations are made in the conclusion regarding the use of the findings for future research and policy.

Working With Older People, Oct 16, 2017

Methodological innovations, May 1, 2020

There is considerable interest in reproduction and ageing today, with the vast majority of studie... more There is considerable interest in reproduction and ageing today, with the vast majority of studies focusing on either one or the other. This piece is drawn from my experiences of conducting a doctoral study on the lived experiences of older involuntary childless men. This population are almost invisible in humanities, social science and sociology scholarship. In this article, I examine the dynamics of agency and social structures that I experienced as a heterosexual older man in a field that is in the main, populated by women. Central to this analysis is my own auto/biographical experience as an older 'mediated' childless man conducting research with involuntary childless men. This article is not focused on men's experience of childlessness, Assisted Reproductive Technology, fatherhood or any age-related health condition(s). Publications reporting the findings from my PhD study on involuntary childless men and the inequalities surrounding ageing and childlessness can be here following these references: Robin Hadley (2018a, 2018b, 2018c, 2019a, 2019b). I draw on Robert Zussman's (2000) concept of 'autobiographical occasions' to show how the relationship between agency and structure operationalise traditional gender normatives. I will examine the issues I encountered during and after my auto/biographical doctoral study on the life experiences of involuntarily childless older man. The article begins by outlining the background to autobiography and then moves on to focus on Zussman's (2000) concept of 'autobiographical occasions' and the reasons for its use. The absence of men's experience from literature on reproduction and ageing is then explored followed by an examination of the methodological basis of my doctoral study on which this article is based. I also highlight the risks involved in presenting work that challenges gender expectations. The article calls for transparency in the ethical procedures of academic organisations and for a change in how men are viewed.

Social Science Research Network, 2018

Robin (2018). Men's views and experiences of infant feeding: A qualitative systematic review. Mat... more Robin (2018). Men's views and experiences of infant feeding: A qualitative systematic review. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 14(3), article no. e12586. For guidance on citations see FAQs.

Social Science Research Network, Jan 28, 2018

It is understood that men can perform an important role with respect to infant feeding, although ... more It is understood that men can perform an important role with respect to infant feeding, although questions remain as to how significant this role might be. In addition, much of the research on men and infant feeding is information gathered from women, rather than from the men themselves. In order to explore these issues further, a systematic review of the qualitative research in infant feeding has been carried out, focusing only on studies that have sought to elicit men's own views and experiences. Evidence was identified through a variety of search strategies including database searching and manual citation searches, as well as searching the grey literature for unpublished data. A total of 20 research papers were included in the review and each study was summarised and analysed thematically to produce a synthesis. Five major analytical themes were identified: men's knowledge of infant feeding; men's views of health promotion; men's role in infant feeding; men's positive views on breastfeeding; and men's negative views on breastfeeding. This paper explores these themes in the context of what the research implications might be for midwives and their practice.

Routledge eBooks, Nov 22, 2021

In this piece, I discuss the differences and difficulties I found during the tumultuous, nerve-ra... more In this piece, I discuss the differences and difficulties I found during the tumultuous, nerve-racking process of completing a PhD in a subject that is both very personal and extremely sensitive: male involuntary childlessness. A subject so sensitive that reaction to my work has ranged from genuine tears of empathy to sarcastic gestures of weeping and condescension (Hadley, 2020). My doctoral research drew on my personal experience and the issue of auto/biography is relevant here. Auto/Biography acknowledges and embraces the significance of the personhood of the researcher in the research process (Brennan and Letherby, 2017). Michael Brennan and Gayle Letherby (2017: 54) suggest that that there is an ‘autobiographical continuum’ ranging from auto/biography to auto/biography. The former refers to those that write about others but acknowledge the significance of their personhood in the process. The latter, in writing about themselves recognise the importance of others in their story. In my PhD and other academic writings, I write from an auto/biography perspective. However, here I write from the auto/biographical perspective as I share my story of being a doctoral student.

Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Mar 15, 2016

Social Science Research Network, Oct 31, 2018

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Berghahn Books, Sep 8, 2022

Methodological Innovations, May 2, 2020

Social Science Research Network, 2015

Social Science Research Network, 2018

Social Science Research Network, 2014

Social Science Research Network, Dec 1, 2020

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 1, 2019

Physical Therapy Reviews, Feb 13, 2021

Working With Older People, Oct 16, 2017

Methodological innovations, May 1, 2020

Social Science Research Network, 2018

Social Science Research Network, Jan 28, 2018

Routledge eBooks, Nov 22, 2021

Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Mar 15, 2016

Social Science Research Network, Oct 31, 2018

The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, 2020

Previous research has reported adverse health outcomes for emergency services personnel (ESP), ou... more Previous research has reported adverse health outcomes for emergency services personnel (ESP), outcomes that research more broadly has shown can be improved using a gamification and mobile health (mhealth) apps approach. We conducted a review of research on gamification and mhealth apps for ESP that had been published in the last 19 years using 6 major research databases. The results demonstrated that virtually no relevant research has been published, suggesting a significant gap in the evidence base of an approach that could potentially have significant benefits for the health of ESP.

Spesialisert poliklinikk for psykosomatikk og traumer / SPST-Sørlandet sykehus. Ved spørsmål om s... more Spesialisert poliklinikk for psykosomatikk og traumer / SPST-Sørlandet sykehus. Ved spørsmål om seminaret, ta kontakt med Linda Hodnemyr pst@sshf.no emne UBH. SPST, Gynekologisk avdeling Sørlandet sykehus og Universitetet i Oslo arrangerer et seminar om Ufrivillig barnløshet og helsemessige perspektiver. Målgruppen er helsepersonell, fastleger, gynekologer, psykologer og psykoterapeuter. Søkes godkj av Psykologforeningen, Dnlf (allmennmedisin,psykiatri,samfunnsmedisin og gynekologi) og NSF Seminaret er selvfølgelig også åpent for personer med interesse for tematikken 24.oktober 2019, kl 08.30-15.00 Sted: Arkivet Vesterveien 4, Kristiansand Fokus innen medisin er i stor grad på tekniske nyvinninger og løsninger som skal føre til graviditet. Det er i mindre grad fokus på behovet for psykologisk omsorg, forebygging og lindring av svekket livskvalitet som følge av uønsket barnløshet. Vi ønsker å sette fokus på en pasientgruppe som sannsynligvis er økende: Ufrivillig barnløse. Prosessen fra utredning til avslutning av medisinsk oppfølging, utgjør en så stor belastning på livskvalitet, psykisk helse og parforhold at det i langt større grad burde vaert satt søkelys på. Internasjonal forskning underbygger dette, og viser at de psykiske reaksjonene på ufrivillig barnløshet ikke står tilbake for det man vet utløses av alvorlige kreftdiagnoser. Ufrivillig barnløshet utgjør for mange en alvorlig krise, med risiko for dårlig livskvalitet, depresjon, angst og samlivsbrudd. Foredragsholderne Professor Cristina Archetti, UiO, PhD Robin Hadley, UK, Filmskaper og sosiolog Hilde Merete Haug, Gynekolog Marita Sandvold Lomheim, Leg. psykolog Professor Emeritus Anders Møller, Sahlgrenska Sjukhuset Gøteborg og Psykologspesialist Hildegun Sarita Selle, SPST, SSHF ønsker å bidra til kompetanseheving og bevisstgjøring på aktuelle temaer:  sorgprosesser og psykiske reaksjoner ved ufrivillig barnløshet  påvirkning på parforhold  prisen for å få barn for enhver pris  hvordan helsepersonell, omgivelser og samfunn kan bidra til større aksept og bedre livskvalitet hos ufrivillig barnløse  Påmelding, send mail til pst@sshf.no og merk med UBH (Bindende påmelding innen 01.10.2019) Kursavgift kr 450,-Skriv fakturaadresse/referanse UBH v påmelding.

"The global trend of an increasingly ageing population and a declining fertility rate has been wi... more "The global trend of an increasingly ageing population and a declining fertility rate has been widely accepted. Moreover, as men’s mortality rates are predicted to soon equal women’s, the gender profile of the UK’s ageing population is predicted to change. Childless men are, compared to women, missing from gerontological, sociological, infertility, and psychological research. These fields have all mainly focussed on family and women, with the fertility intentions, history and experience of older men being overlooked. Involuntary childlessness may be seen as a complex bereavement formed by multiple losses with distress levels in both men and women in this population have been found to be as high those with grave medical conditions

This paper aims to provide some insight in to the experiences of involuntarily childless (older men. Drawing on 27 in-depth biographical interviews (lasting 1-5 hours) conducted with 14 men aged between 49 and 82 from across the country. This paper highlights the complex intersections between men’s experience of involuntary childlessness and agency, structure, and relationships. It was found there are diverse routes of entering involuntary childlessness of which interpersonal skills, partner selection, timing of relationships, and the assumption of fertility are important factors. The accounts also demonstrated the importance of relationships: the centrality of it to those in them and the desire for one for those not. Grand fatherhood was referenced through four routes: Latent, Adopted, Surrogate, and Proxy. This paper demonstrates how men’s involuntary childlessness affects their life course.
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My research explores the life experiences of 14 involuntarily childless men aged between 49 and 8... more My research explores the life experiences of 14 involuntarily childless men aged between 49 and 82. There is a growing recognition that there is is lack of research into childlessness generally, men, ageing, and the impact of childlessness in later life on relationships, social interaction and networks, health and wellbeing. Dykstra and Hagestad (2007) suggest that older childless adults have been ‘rendered invisible in social science literature’ (p. 1275). Gerontological research has traditionally focussed on older women, because statistics indicated they lived longer, had high chronic co-morbidities, received more state benefits, and occupied the majority of the home care sector (Arber et al, 2003). Similarly most studies into involuntary childlessness (IvC) have focussed on women with childless men generally excluded from the work that has taken place (Dykstra and Keizer, 2009). Most studies on IvC are based on those that access infertility treatment with the figure for the number of the involuntarily childless difficult to gauge, as those who do not seek treatment are not recorded. IvC can result in levels of distress and bereavement for both men and women on a level as those suffering from serious medical conditions. Research into the IvC is therefore of a sensitive nature.

In this presentation I discuss the various methods I employed over 10 months in order to try and access this liminal group. Approaches used include flyers, leaflets, email, newspaper adverts, website, twitter, radio interview, business cards, personal networks, third parties, and support groups. The nature of power in the research process (Nunkoosing, 2005) and how that may manifest itself from the initial invitation to participate will be discussed.

The dominant thrust of literature regarding men, tends to give a stereotypical hegemonic masculin... more The dominant thrust of literature regarding men, tends to give a stereotypical hegemonic masculinity portrayal of them as aggressive, stoic, unemotional, self contained, and uncommunicative. For men, the research interview may be viewed as an environment where masculinity is both displayed and under threat. Although there has been much discussion on the effect of gender in the interpersonal dynamics of interviews, the majority of this debate centres on women interviewing women. Studies that analyse female interviewer and male interviewee highlight that the type of research study can give different views on the interview dynamic. However, there are few studies that analyse the research dynamics of men interviewing women or men interviewing men. This presentation will initially describe the various feminist debates surrounding the qualitative research interview. This will be followed by an exploration of interviews carried out by female and male interviewers with female and male participants. Interviews between male interviewers and interviewees will then be examined, and this will be followed by strategies and recommendations for interviewing men.

Society and Infant Psychology Annual Conference, 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that childhood attachment predi... more Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that childhood attachment predicts whether a person has children in later life.
Background: Although being a parent is considered a typical part of the human life-cycle in most parts of the world, childlessness has increased substantially in recent decades in developed parts of the world. It is possible that insecure childhood attachment has contributed to this phenomenon, but this hypothesis has been relatively little explored.
Method: This study is a cross-sectional survey of 394 men and women aged over 50 years old, stratified by geographical UK region from a research panel, and analysed using hierarchical logistic regression. Validated measures of childhood attachment and other psychological and demographic factors were used.
Results: The main finding was that, independent of the impact of other variables (age, sex, education level, marital status, life stress, health related quality of life, mental positivity, and avoidant attachment style); people who were childless were significantly more likely to have developed an anxious attachment to their primary caregiver in childhood.
Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate the significance of anxious childhood attachment as a predictor of producing children in one’s lifetime.
Keywords: childlessness; ambivalence; family structure; social psychology (family); social trends/ social change; survey research

The aim of this study was to investigate if childhood relationship experience influenced whether ... more The aim of this study was to investigate if childhood relationship experience influenced whether a person over the age of 50 has children or not. Childlessness has increased substantially in recent decades, but early years psychological contributors have been relatively little explored. A cross-sectional online survey of 237 men and 157 women aged over 50 years, was deployed. Of the men, there were 195 parents and 42 non-parents. Of the women, 125 parents and 32 non-parents. Independent of the impact of other variables (age, sex, education level, marital status, life stress, health related quality of life, mental positivity, and avoidant attachment style), the main finding was that compared to parents, people who were childless were significantly more likely to report signs of having an anxious childhood attachment to their primary caregiver. This study highlights the significance of anxious childhood attachment as a factor in in later life relationships.
Keywords: aging, childlessness, gender, family processes, mid- and later-life

Reference as: Hadley, R. A. (2010). Does the Desire for Fatherhood affect Men?, Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Annual Conference (A0, portrait). Lueven, Belgium: Poster., Sep 2010

The agony of being a childless man: Women have talked for years about the longing for a baby. Now... more The agony of being a childless man: Women have talked for years about the longing for a baby. Now would-be dads are sharing their pain
Estimates suggest 25 per cent of men over 43 are childless:
Dr Robin Hadley became childless not-by-choice as his wife was unable to have kids
Sheridan Voysey was diagnosed as infertile after seeking help to have children
They believe men need more support than they are currently getting
By Stefanie Marsh For The Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:34, 29 October 2017 | UPDATED: 08:31, 30 October 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5029609/The-agony-childless-man.html#ixzz4yDXul0co

The Guardian newspaper article on involuntary childless men and women.

The Daily Mail, Apr 3, 2013

Men are almost as likely as women to want children, say British researchers Also feel more isolat... more Men are almost as likely as women to want children, say British researchers Also feel more isolated, depressed and angry if they don't have them Main reasons men want children are 'cultural' and due to family pressures For women, it is more about personal desire and biological urge Men without children are more likely to suffer depression about the issue than their female counterparts

The Daily Telegraph, Apr 4, 2013

Robin Hadley: I know all about broody men who long to be dads. I am one A study says childless me... more Robin Hadley: I know all about broody men who long to be dads. I am one A study says childless men can be just as broody as women, and it's true 'A lot of hurt comes from the unfulfilled desire to be a dad,' says Robin Hadley Photo: Clara Molden

Sociology at Work, Mar 5, 2014

In my research, I have been honoured to interview men in the UK about their experiences of wantin... more In my research, I have been honoured to interview men in the UK about their experiences of wanting to be a ‘Dad’. All the meetings have been moving and reflected some aspect of my own thoughts and feelings regarding not becoming a father – a status so easily achieved and important that it can’t usually be talked about. What do the men say? Well quite, a lot and I can just give a flavour of the depth and range that the impact of male involuntary childlessness has had on them.

The Doctoral Journey as an Emotional, Embodied, Political Experience, 2021

The absence of men’s voices surrounding men’s experiences of involuntary childlessness was the in... more The absence of men’s voices surrounding men’s experiences of involuntary childlessness was the inspiration for my auto/biographical PhD study. I found undertaking the research involved a great deal of emotional effort, and the call of my working-class roots and feelings of unworthiness were constant companions. Qualitative researchers sometimes describe themselves as a ‘bricoleur’ (a makeshift artisan) in order to convey the eclectic nature of their research. I adapt that description and view myself as a ‘bateleur’: an acrobat, buffoon, juggler, tightrope walker, and tumbler. In my native Mancunian ‘bateleur’ is pronounced ‘battler’: reflecting my struggle through the highs and lows I experienced during my PhD.

The Palgrave Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Health , 2019

Fatherhood is seen as a natural right—a transition that is the ultimate sign that a man is virile... more Fatherhood is seen as a natural right—a transition that is the ultimate sign that a man is virile, and bestows concomitant status, rights and privileges. The demographic, social, and economic changes across the last few decades have led to increased scrutiny of parenthood. Much of the focus is on fertility trends and the impact of childlessness for women. However, although there are more childless men than childless women, there is very little research literature on the impact of male involuntary childlessness.

Ageing, Diversity and Equality: Social justice perspectives., 2018

Hadley, R. A. (2018). Ageing Without Children, gender and social justice. In S. Westwood (Ed.), A... more Hadley, R. A. (2018). Ageing Without Children, gender and social justice. In S. Westwood (Ed.), Ageing, Diversity and Equality: Social justice perspectives. Abingdon: Routledge, UK

Hadley, R. A. (2018). Childlessness and Men who wanted to be Dads. In VASPX & S. Petrou (Eds.), I... more Hadley, R. A. (2018). Childlessness and Men who wanted to be Dads. In VASPX & S. Petrou (Eds.), I Only Wanted to be a Dad: A man's journey on the road to fatherhood (pp. 244 - 254). UK: VASPX Publishing.
ISBN: 978-0956907653

A lot of later life care is centred on the family. A member of a family, usually an adult daughte... more A lot of later life care is centred on the family. A member of a family, usually an adult daughter or son, informally care for an older parent. Families often include people who are biological kin but who hold a similar status – ‘fictive kin’. For example, a long-term neighbour or friend from school might be known as an Aunty or Uncle. Often the biological child or ‘fictive kin’ is the ‘go-between’ between older parent(s) and formal care services. They perform an essential role in maintaining the dignity and independence of the older person(s) and facilitate access into and out of care services. However, over the last few decades there has been a change in the shape of families. This change is linked to long-term decline in fertility rate, the rise in the age of mortality, economics, increase in divorce rate and stepfamilies. Not only are families smaller than they once were but there is an increase in number of people ageing without children.

No 14 The Representation of Older People in Ageing Research Series, edited by Anna Tarrant and Ja... more No 14 The Representation of Older People in Ageing Research Series,
edited by Anna Tarrant and Jacqueline H. Watts.
Sociological and gerontological research concerning men’s ageing remains piecemeal and under - theorised despite recognition of the gendered nature of ageing and burgeoning recognition that older people and their needs are largely absent and less considered in academic and public rhetoric.The contributors to this one - day workshop sought to improve understanding of contemporary men’s ageing by showcasing current research in this area, to forge a multi-disciplinary network of scholars, practitioners and end users interested in men’s ageing, and to generate future research collaborations.
A joint series from the Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies at the Open University and the Centre for Policy on Ageing

Fertility Matters at Work Blog, 2024

Vice President and Presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s fertility history has been the focus of m... more Vice President and Presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s fertility history has been the focus of much attention: #CrazyCatLady. In the mid-2010s former UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s childless status became an issue during her leadership campaign. Her husband’s childlessness was not mentioned: no #CrazyCatMan. According to ChatGPT [1] there is no equivalent to ‘crazy cat lady’ the nearest being ‘crazy cat man’ or ‘cat guy.’ ChatGPT notes that the male version does not have the same stigma or cultural recognition as #CrazyCatLady.

World Childless Week, 2023

It all happens in November when it comes to men. First, the whole month is ‘Movember.’ Second, ev... more It all happens in November when it comes to men. First, the whole month is ‘Movember.’ Second, every 19th November is International Men’s Day (IMD). Finally, on the 23rd November this year is the Men and Boys Coalition National Conference. They all have a common theme – they all are concerned about men and particularly men’s health and well-being. The focus of this blog is on IMD. IMD originated in 1992 in Trinidad and Tobago and has since moved on to the world stage. The United Kingdom (UK) holds more IMD events than the rest of the world. In their House of Commons Library Briefing Paper the Men and Boys Coalition (MBC) describe IMD in the UK as consisting of three positive themes:
1. Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys.
2. Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing.
3. Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity.

World Childless Week, 2023

It all happens in November when it comes to men. First, the whole month is 'Movember.' Second, ev... more It all happens in November when it comes to men. First, the whole month is 'Movember.' Second, every 19th November is International Men's Day (IMD). Finally, on the 23rd November this year is the Men and Boys Coalition National Conference. They all have a

The Age Action Alliance, 2023

In the Western world, childlessness affects one in four men and one in five women. In the UK the ... more In the Western world, childlessness affects one in four men and one in five women. In the UK the numbers of people ageing without children aged over 65 years is projected to rise to above 2 million by 2030. Although precarity in ageing is increasingly recognised in academia, people ageing without children are not acknowledged as a group and dismissed as a ‘non-category.’ This means they are in danger of being invisible to academia, policymakers and other institutional stakeholders.

Berghahn Books Blog, 2021

Sir Mervyn Eastman talks to Robin Hadley about his background, his research and his plans for the... more Sir Mervyn Eastman talks to Robin Hadley about his background, his research and his plans for the future.

The global trend of a declining fertility rate and an increasingly ageing population has been ext... more The global trend of a declining fertility rate and an increasingly ageing population has been extensively reported. Childless men are, compared to women, absent from geographical, gerontological, masculinities, psychological, reproductive, and sociological research. These fields have mainly focussed on fatherhood, family and women, with the fertility intentions, history and experience of older men being discounted. The failure to fulfil the status of parenthood may lead to a complex form of bereavement and a significant challenge to individual and cultural identity. This qualitative study used a pluralistic framework drawn from the biographical, feminist, gerontological, and life course approaches. A thematic analysis was applied to the semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 men aged between 49 and 82 years. The analysis highlighted the complex intersections between involuntary childlessness and agency, biology, relationships, and socio-cultural structures. This study challenges the stereotype that the social, emotional and relational aspects of involuntary childlessness do not affect men. The men’s attitude to fatherhood changed with age and centred on the theme of the ‘social clock’ that revealed the synergy between an individual and societal morès surrounding parenthood. The participants’ narratives demonstrated the diverse elements that affected the men’s experience of involuntary childlessness: upbringing, economics, timing of events, interpersonal skills, sexual orientation, partner selection, relationship formation and dissolution, bereavement, and the assumption of fertility. The importance of relationship quality was highlighted in the social networks of both those with and without partners. Awareness of ‘outsiderness’ and a fear of being viewed a paedophile were widely reported.

Berghahn Books, 2021

The global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing population has serious i... more The global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing population has serious implications for individuals and institutions alike. Childless men are mostly excluded from ageing, social science and reproduction scholarship and almost completely absent from most national statistics. This unique book examines the lived experiences of a hidden and disenfranchised population: men who wanted to be fathers. It explores the complex intersections that influence childlessness over the life course.

Berghahn Books, Sep 8, 2021

Fertility 2024, 2024

Male broodiness: is it a thing? An exploration of men’s desire for fatherhood. Link to e-poster:... more Male broodiness: is it a thing? An exploration of men’s desire for fatherhood.
Link to e-poster: https://api.ltb.io/show/ABYIO
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of the desire for parenthood (broodiness) in childless men compared to non-parents and parents. The vast bulk of studies examining reproductive behaviour, intentions and outcomes focus on women and couples. There are very few studies exploring men’s desire for fatherhood.
Methods: This study is a sequential quantitative-qualitative mixed-methods online survey on the influences, motivations, and reasons for men and women’s desire for parenthood. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive, univariate, and bivariate techniques. Qualitative data were analysed using a latent thematic analysis. Recruitment was by the snowball email method. The sample was formed of 232 respondents with a mean age of 41.37 years (SD = 10.83), a central tendency of female, the majority were White British, degree educated, professional, and heterosexual.
Results: The main finding identified non-parent females and males showed similar levels of desire for parenthood with females scoring slightly higher than males. A higher number of childless men desired parenthood (51.9%) than did not (25.9%). For non-parents economic and social factors were the main influences on the decision for parenthood. Female and male parents demonstrated an equal desire not to repeat parenthood.
Conclusions: The findings from this study did not support the hypothesis (and common belief) that men are not interested or affected by the desire for parenthood. Compared to equivalent women, childless men may experience higher levels of depression and isolation.

The vast bulk of studies examining reproductive behaviour, intentions and outcomes focus on women... more The vast bulk of studies examining reproductive behaviour, intentions and outcomes focus on women and couples. There are very few studies exploring men’s desire for fatherhood – reflecting the myths that men are not concerned about reproducing and are fully fertile from puberty until death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of the desire for parenthood (broodiness) in childless men compared to childless women, fathers, and mothers.
Guide to the eight poster tiles.
1. About this poster: a key to the different poster sections
2. Abstract: a brief overview of the research the poster is based on.
3. Full presentation. Consists of eight tiles, the first three are PowerPoint videos followed by supporting material.
a. Part 1: gives the background and aims of the study.
b. Part 2: explores the methodology.
c. Part 3: discusses the results and conclusions.
d. A list of references divided into three subjects: Literature; Methodology and Ethics.
e. A PDF of the complete presentation.
f. The academic paper from the study, 'Male Broodiness: Does the desire for fatherhood affect men?'
g. A bonus academic paper, 'The impact of male involuntary childlessness.'
h. Disclosure statement.
4. Traditional poster: a single page downloadable version of the presentation.
5. Academic paper drawn from the study, 'Male Broodiness: Does the desire for fatherhood affect men?'
6. Book: reviews of my book that explores the impact of ageing on involuntarily childless older men and link to the publisher’s website.
7. Resources on childlessness. Links to support for people who are childless by circumstance, chosen childless, involuntarily childless, and/or biologically childless.
8. About the author: more information about me including mu biography, links to my academic publications, newspaper articles, social media (Instagram Live; podcasts and YouTube video's) and social media (blogs).
Disclosure Statement
There are no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding
The study was self-funded - no funding was received.
This presentation was self-funded - no funding was received.