This essay processes how masculinity is expressed and used in regards to fatherhood. What does the father maintain and distance himself from when it comes to fatherhood and how does it affect the father's identity. The concept perspectives that are used in this essay to describe and understand manliness are hegemonic masculinity and the theoretical perspective discourse. The empirical data drawn from interviews will be subjected to discourse analysis. The interviews are based on five men with different ethnicities as well as different backgrounds and socioeconomic status. The reason I chose different informants was to see if it has an impact on the way men think of masculinity and how this manifest in to fatherhood, as well as which norms and values they adhere to and takes distance from in regards to their children.  There are several factors that can explain how humans think and act, however, these experiences are often based on factors from your childhood, society and culture which are always intertwined. This study investigates how experiences and interactions concerning masculinity from an early childhood shapes and is transmitted on to ones child when one becomes a father.

Thesis The Concepts of Motherhood and Fatherhood in Selected Novels of Petra Soukupová will be through the tools of feminist literary theory analyze three contemporary novels of the Czech authoress- Pod sněhem (2015), K moři (2007) and Zmizet (2011). The basic analytical category will be gender, but equally important will be the concepts of motherhood and fatherhood, which interweave all three novels. An integral part of the thesis will be the method of resistant reading, which is based on the theory by Judith Fetterley. Resistant reading is an alternative to uninstructed or unreflected reading, in which a reader uncritically accept the author's concept of the text. The core of the resistant reading is, therefore, a critical examination of literary works and the formation of new critical meanings to androcentrism. Important building stones of the thesis will be the work of literary theorist Pam Morris and work of the literary theorist Jonathan Cullera. Keywords: gender, motherhood, fatherhood, resistant reading

Using latent profile analysis, we identified patterns of parenting satisfaction and paternal involvement among 201 South Korean fathers. Three profiles were identified: (1) low involved (n = 74), highly involved (n = 28), and moderately involved (n = 99). A Multivariate Analysis of Variance analysis revealed that fathers in the low involved (n = 74) profile were significantly different from their counterparts in the other profiles regarding longer work hours and higher levels of work-to-family conflict. Also, fathers in the highly involved profile were more likely to report their wives are employed. The findings indicate that paternal involvement types are affected by work-related factors among Korean fathers. Implications for policymakers and research will be discussed. Objectives - To examine the levels of paternal involvement with children and parental satisfaction among Korean fathers.- To explore subgroups of Korean fathers with similar patterns of parental satisfaction and father involvement types.- To identify the differences among the subgroups of Korean fathers regarding demographic characteristics, work hours, wife’s employment, job stress, and work to family conflict.

South Africa is the most popular international destination for Zimbabwean migrants escaping the economic crisis of their country. It has been estimated that by 2016, one and a half million Zimbabwean nationals were living in South Africa. However, little research explores the lived experience of Zimbabweans in South Africa in the context of family. This is despite scholars highlighting an increase in family migration from Zimbabwe to South Africa in recent years. This study explores the parenting experiences of immigrant Zimbabwean parents raising their children in South Africa. Specifically, it investigates the ways in which raising children in a different country and cultural context influences parents’ understanding of and approaches to parenting. Nine Zimbabwean mothers and fathers living with their spouses and children in Cape Town participated in a qualitative study, with semi-structured interviews. Data was collected and analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that the participants’ overarching experience of parenting was that they were ultimately raising ‘South Africans’. Participants framed their children’s ‘South African-ness’ positively, identifying the children as cosmopolitan and empowered, which they celebrated. However, they also lamented the children’s loss of identity as the most problematic aspect of ‘South African-ness’. To navigate the resultant tensions, participants relaxed some of their existing beliefs while simultaneously implementing measures to reinforce some non-negotiable values and beliefs in their children. This dissertation argues that while parents’ understanding of parenting is strongly rooted in their cultural background and values, they adapt their parenting styles and practices according to what they calculate will enable their families to thrive. The study adds to the body of knowledge on immigrant Zimbabwean families who have become part of South African society. This is especially relevant in light of the South African government’s laudable initiatives towards regularising the stay of Zimbabweans in South Africa, such as the Dispensation of Zimbabweans Project (DZP) of 2009 and its successive permits. This study can therefore contribute to the body of knowledge that informs the ways in which South Africa can continue to respond to the reality of migration from Zimbabwe.

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / The presence of a supportive and attentive father has been shown to hold a myriad of positive health outcomes for a pregnancy, and benefits the wellbeing of the mother, child, and the father himself. Pregnancy is a key period for fathers to become invested in their children’s lives. However, obstetric research continues to be largely feminised, therefore neglects the experiences of men. Considering that existing research shows that the antenatal period is a turbulent time for men, the aim of this research was to explore fathers’ subjective lived experiences of their partner’s medically high-risk pregnancy.

Past researchers have reported that father absence and low engagement affects 24 million children in the United States. African American fathers make up the largest group with low involvement. Fatherhood programs support men in their roles, yet little is known about why this group still exhibits low engagement. Using the family systems theory as a foundation, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American fathers who participated in fatherhood programs and their engagement after these programs. This study used purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews to collect information from 9 African American men aged 18-45 from Philadelphia, PA who participated in fatherhood programs and self-identified as uninvolved. The research question focused on how the lived experiences of noncustodial African American fathers who participated in fatherhood programs influenced their involvement and engagement in their children's lives. Nine audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and coded for themes using a classification system based on key terms and repetitive words. Fathers while part of the family system were found to exhibit low accountability and blaming behavior, resulting in continued low involvement. Future research should include a quantitative or mixed methods study to consider distinct variables such as stated intent, actual behavior, blame, and personal accountability, and influence on involvement. This study contributes to positive social change by informing program modules with interventions for fathers by proposing a shift from lecture models to peer support models considering accountability, support, and the coparenting relationship.

For noncustodial fathers, having legal rights and leaving an inheritance to their child or children are important aspects of being an active father. Georgia state law sees a difference between paternity and legitimation, and for some noncustodial fathers, although paternity is established and they are responsible for supporting that child financially and medically as deemed through child support enforcement, they have no legal rights to their children, nor can they petition the courts for visitation until legitimation is established. This correlational study examined the impact that the legitimation policy has on noncustodial fathers and their relationship with their child, as measured by visitation and attitudes toward child support obligations. Dunn's conceptualization of continuous policy analysis provided the theoretical foundation for the study. Online survey data were collected from a sample of 325 noncustodial fathers in the state of Georgia through the Department of Child Support Services Fatherhood Program. The Spearman's rho analysis revealed a weak, but statistically significant (p <.01) and positive relationship between the level of knowledge of the legitimation process/policy and attitudes towards visitation of unmarried fathers who participate in the Fatherhood program as well as attitudes towards child support obligations. The findings of this study support Dunn's theoretical approach of continual policy analysis and provide evidence to and encouragement for policy makers to review the legitimation policy, synthesize conflicting views, and develop policy options that may include eliminating the legitimation process from Official Code of Georgia Annotated 19-7-22 (O.C.G.A.).

The purpose of this study was to explore current African American fathers' experiences with being fathered, and to understand how those definitions, perceptions, and experiences of fatherhood impacted their involvement in the lives of their own children. In-depth individual interviews were conducted in Detroit, Michigan with 10 African American fathers ranging in age from 22 to 25. Ecological systems theory and identity theory served as the theoretical framework for the study. Member checking, detailed descriptions, and audit trails were used to establish trustworthiness of the data. The findings of the study showed that father involvement was directly related to or affected by being fathered. The participants' desires or abilities to be active and involved fathers with their own children were not contingent on whether their own fathers were active in their lives. The participants expressed specific ideas about what being a father means to them, the importance of the role, how they enact the role, and the impact of their role on their children. Drawing on their own experiences, both positive and negative, participants expressed an unwavering level of commitment to their role and children. The themes that emerged from the interviews included: presence, responsibility, fatherhood as a priority, acceptance, and reciprocal relationships. The participants did not equate being a father with providing financial support, but placed significant emphasis on meeting the emotional and psychological needs of their children. The need for continued exploration of father involvement among young African American fathers is necessary in order for the development of comprehensive, research-based programs to provide support for and benefit to both fathers and their children.

Ineffectively addressing a first-time fathers' perception of pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood by medical providers and other medical personnel, may lead to problems of inadequate support, increased tension, anger, concern, and fear at a personal level and between partners. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to explore the perspective of first-time fathers during pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood. The biopsychosocial model was used as the framework to provide the foundation for this study. Research questions addressed first-time fathers' biggest fears, deepest concerns, and most embarrassing questions related to pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood as well as the emotion and physical changes that a first-time father may encounter. Data from 12 participants was collected using one-on-one interviews. These interviews were analyzed, utilizing the biopsychosocial model as a guide for assessing social, psychological, and physical relationships and themes. Several themes were identified; including both positive and negative themes, such as mood swings, and watching the belly grow during pregnancy. During labor, themes such as, it was a life changing experience and fear of something happening to the baby or mom during labor weigh heavy on the minds of first time fathers. Themes identified in fatherhood included becoming more selfless and responsible, fear of making a mistake as a father, and the difficulties of fatherhood. The findings of this study will contribute to positive social change by providing a basis for developing appropriate and effective educational programs that will assist first-time fathers in optimizing their role throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood.

No description available.