“Anybody can make kids; it takes a real man to look after your kids”: Aboriginal men’s discourse on parenting

Abstract

BackgroundThe realms of parenting have long belonged to females. In many cultures it has been a female who has predominantly cared for and raised children. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male parents this has resulted in them being largely overlooked from contributing to the parenting conversation. Predictably, such a dominant discourse has led to an inadequate distribution of opportunities available and a societal perception that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male parents are disinterested in and/or disengaged from their parental roles and responsibilities, however, this is far from the truth.MethodsThis study is entrenched in an Indigenist research approach which privileges Indigenous lives, Indigenous knowledges and Indigenous voices, and utilised the Research Topic Yarning method to capture participants stories.ResultsFour yarning groups were conducted across South Australia in Coober Pedy, Yalata, Port Lincoln and metropolitan Adelaide. In total, 46 Aboriginal men contributed their experiences and stories of their roles and responsibilities as parents to this study.Men described being a dad as a privilege, emotionally fulfilling and rewarding and although at times it can be challenging, neglecting their roles and responsibilities are not considered options. Lack of employment and therefore financial security were described as a challenge to fatherhood especially for fathers who live in remote communities. Aboriginal culture, connection to country and family were identified as critical elements and strengths for Aboriginal male parents. Furthermore, Aboriginal male parents are yearning for opportunities to participate in parenting programs including men’s parenting groups.ConclusionConsideration of and concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men’s involvement and experiences prior to conception, prenatal and postpartum has slowly gained momentum in recent years, yet there has been little improvement in the overall provision of appropriate parenting support services and/or programs for these men.

‘Dudes Are Meant to be Tough as Nails’: The Complex Nexus Between Masculinities, Culture and Health Literacy From the Perspective of Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Males – Implications for Policy and Practice

“…This is important, as previous scholarship has emphasized that fatherhood represents a critical life juncture for many males, where health-related attitudes and behaviours are often reconfigured and reprioritized (Gast & Peak, 2010; Robertson, 2008; Smith et al, 2008; Umberson et al, 2010). This includes more recent literature focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers (Canuto et al, 2019, 2020; Reilly & Rees, 2018).…”

“…This aligns strongly with scholarship about fatherhood being a critical juncture where men are more likely to adopt healthy behaviours and engage in help seeking and health service use (Gast & Peak, 2010; Robertson, 2007; Smith et al, 2008; Umberson et al, 2010). There remains room to investigate this further within the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers (Canuto et al, 2019, 2020; Reilly & Ress, 2018;). Such narratives were presented, especially powerfully, throughout social media.…”

“When I got the news”: Aboriginal fathers in the Kimberley region yarning about their experience of the antenatal period

“…37,40 Yarning is also a way to help ensure Aboriginal people are engaged, informed and active participants in the research. 33,38,39 Inclusion criteria for participants included: identifying as Aboriginal, having a partner who was more than six months pregnant or a child less than 18 months old, and having spent the majority of the antenatal period in the Broome shire. We used a purposive approach to sampling and note that the successful recruitment of participants relied on the knowledge and connections of the Aboriginal researchers (ZC andES) to the Broome Aboriginal community.…”

“…shows the high value Aboriginal men place on becoming a father and how fatherhood is associated with being an attached and involved caregiver. [27][28][29][31][32][33] Findings from our study show fatherhood was considered to commence when men found out their partners were pregnant. For these men supporting their partners through the pregnancy, making positive changes to their lifestyles, and having access to information on pregnancy were identified as meaningful and demonstrative steps in their transition to fatherhood.…”

“…30 Recent qualitative research findings have demonstrated that Aboriginal men aspire to assume responsibility for fatherhood early, embody the notion of complementary caregiver and promote cultural pride in their children. [29][30][31]33 Amongst the studies exploring contemporary expressions and experiences of Aboriginal fatherhood, [29][30][31][33][34][35] Aboriginal men's journey through the ANC period remains underexplored. This study aimed to explore some Aboriginal men's perceptions of self and their intersection with ANC service providers during the ANC period.…”