Examining different perspectives on fatherhood: a socio-cultural approach (original) (raw)
Protective and risk factors associated with involved fatherhood in a traditional culture
Family Relations, 2022
Objective: Consistent with ecological systems theory and the heuristic model of parental behavior dynamics, the current study is focused on both individual and contextual factors that determine fatherhood involvement in the context of a traditional patriarchal culture. Background: Father-child interaction during the early childhood period is a salient factor in predicting later child outcomes. However, studies on antecedents of involved fatherhood are scarce, mostly concentrated on one aspect of fathering behavior, and limited to few cultural contexts. Method: Data were collected from a representative urban sample of fathers of preschoolers in Turkey (N = 1,070). Different components of fatherhood involvement were assessed to project three distinct paternal behavior dimensions as care, affection, and control. Results: Father role satisfaction, psychological value attributed to the child, and perceived family support were positively associated with involved fatherhood and higher parental warmth. Working hours per day was negatively associated with involved fatherhood, as expected. Higher life satisfaction was associated with higher positive parenting. Patriarchal views of masculinity were found to be the main predictor of parental physical punishment, controlling for all other predictors in the model. Conclusion: Study findings emphasized the importance of factors other than parenting skills that contribute to fathers' parental effectiveness.
The Father's Role in Parenting: a Comparison of Different Cultures and Psychological Perspectives
DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals - DOAJ, 2022
Background: Despite the increasing attention to the role of the father and its importance in child development, little research has been done in this area compared to the mother's role. Methods: : In this article, the father's role in child development was systematically reviewed from the perspective of different theoretical approaches as well as different cultures. Results: The findings showed that the role of men as fathers is changing and evolving from a mere breadwinner to a supporter. Most new generation fathers seek to participate in their children's lives and are more caregiving and emotionally responsive than the previous generation. Fathers have a unique role in raising children, which is different from the mothers' role. The role of the father varies under the influence of culture and social structure. In Asia economic problems have changed the clear definition of the role of father. In the Middle East, Islamic beliefs determine the role of the father as the head of the family. In Europe, the role of the father as a participant and responsible person is improving. The modernization of society in Africa has complicated gaining a coherent and clear image of the father's role for children. In North American countries, parents play an almost equal role in raising children. Expectations from fathers are vague in South America, but these expectations seem to be changing more rapidly. Conclusion: Studies confirm the important role of fathers in parenting from different psychological approaches and the change in men's definition of fatherhood. However, the father's roles are different in different cultural and social contexts.
Fathers and Families: A Cultural Inquiry
2015
Our society has become indifferent to fathers at best, except in connection with money, and hostile to them at worst. It uses law and other cultural mechanisms to promote confused, trivialized and politicized notions of fatherhood. Restricting ourselves for practical purposes to the enduringly massive but increasingly ignored straight segment of society, we argue not only that children need fathers but also that men need fatherhood as the one remaining source of a healthy collective identity. To support our theory, we place fatherhood in the larger cultural context of reproduction by asking what it means to be human, to be a man or a woman, to be part of a family, to be part of a community or nation, and to give or take life. We hope to broaden and deepen discussions of both sex and gender, in short, with resources from the humanities.
2003
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, we have reached a pivotal moment in terms of fathers' roles in families and communities. There is, at present, a significant opportunity for fathers to develop stronger, more intimate bonds with their children and to enhance their roles within their families. Indeed a growing number of fathers are embracing this situation. But the opportunity is in danger of being lost. The unhelpful agendas of some participants in fatherhood debates, and continuing economic and cultural obstacles to paternal involvement in child-rearing, threaten to limit men's positive involvement in parenting. Fathers, and mothers, are important to the well-being of children, families and communities. Supporting fathers' positive involvement in their children's lives is a vital element in the maintenance of healthy families and communities. However, currentproposals to change family law do not represent either an appropriate or effective means to enhan...
In the Name of the Father: A Discussion on (New) Fatherhood, Its Assumptions and Obstacles
Deliberation on the concepts of father and fatherhood and their literal and symbolic meanings makes the starting point of this paper. Furthermore, a short historical overview is combined with selected theories of fatherhood, which serve as a framework for placing the issues regarding modern father-hood in the appropriate context. That context, it is concluded, rests on the historical interdependence of fatherhood, masculine identity and political power where traditional determinants of masculinity, such as aggressiveness and emotional detachment, represent a major obstacle to the fulfilling and positive father-child relationship. That relationship is partially discussed in relation to the concept of equal parental partnership, implying not only the new forms of fatherhood but the new forms of masculine identity as well. Unfortunately, there are still many obstacles to modern fatherhood, the most important one being gender inequality manifested through traditional male breadwinner and female child-rearer models. Subsequently data is provided on values and practices of Croatian men and women regarding childcare, that were collected and analysed in 2013 as part of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) and its survey on family and changing gender roles. The arising conclusion is that although many positive changes have been made the Croatian society has got a long way to go to both equal parenting and gender equality. Also, it is important to note that as a subject of political and legal controversy fatherhood cannot and must not be considered independently of the wider gender issues regarding motherhood, social status of men and women, as well as socioeconomic assumptions of both fatherhood and motherhood.
Fathering in Cultural Contexts: Developmental and Clinical Issues
2019
How do men think about fathering? How does this differ across different regions of the world? And what effect does this have on child development? Fathering in Cultural Contexts: Developmental and Clinical Issues answers these questions by considering a broad range of theoretical and conceptual models on fathering and childhood development, including attachment theory, developmental psychopathology, masculinity and parenting typologies. Roopnarine and Yildirim provide a comprehensive view of fatherhood and fathering in diverse cultural communities at various stages of economic development, including fathers' involvement in different family structures, from two-parent heterosexual families to community fathering. This book's interdisciplinary approach highlights the changing nature of fathering, drawing connections with child development and well-being, and evaluates the effectiveness of a range of father interventions. Fathering in Cultural Contexts will appeal to upper level undergraduate and graduate students in human development, psychology, sociology, anthropology, social work, and allied health disciplines, and professionals working with families and children in non-profi t and social service agencies across the world.
Culture and conduct of fatherhood in India
International journal of health sciences
The paper aims to add to the scant fatherhood literature in Asia and focuses on the link between culture and conduct of fatherhood in India. The specific objectives of the research are to: (1) explore men’s perception of an ideal father (culture), (2) study men’s participation in parenting (conduct), and (3) examine whether men’s behaviour is in accordance with the beliefs. Using data gathered through semi-structured interviews with 350 fathers of children aged zero to 10 years in Mumbai, India, the results indicate that although the notion of fatherhood is changing, a sizeable proportion of men still see ‘ideal’ fathers in the traditional role of surety, economic provider and/or role model. The actual role performance of fathers is not always consistent with their perception of ideal fatherhood. Identifying the gap between fatherhood ideology and practice and, its correlates may help motivate fathers for increased involvement in day-to-day family work.
Envisioning Fatherhood: Indian Fathers' Perceptions of an Ideal Father
Population Review, 2008
The image one forms in his mind about an ideal father may often affect the way he fathers his children. The present paper therefore aims to study the behavioural and psychological characteristics that define an ideal father. Responses were gathered regarding attributes of an ideal father through both open-ended and closed-ended questions. Urban Indian fathers (N=350) who had at least one child aged 10 years or younger were asked what it means to be an ideal father. Seven dimensions of the fathering role were identified: (a) Caretaker, (b) Surety, (c) Economic Provider, (d) Playmate and friend, (e) Role model, (f) Family head, and (g) Resource. The findings revealed that caretaking was viewed as one of the most important attributes of an ideal father. Nevertheless, a noticeable proportion of men believed ideal fathers to be surety, economic provider, and/or role model. The study further attempted to find out whether these men viewed themselves as an ideal father and the problems faced by them in being an ideal father. The relationship of fathers' characteristics with their perception of themselves as an ideal father has also been examined.