Does Adherence to Masculine Norms Shape Fathering Behavior?

Abstract

Research suggests that many fathers struggle balancing hegemonic masculine norms with new fatherhood ideals. This study uses data on 2,194 fathers from a national study on fathers of children aged 2 to 18 and incorporates a comprehensive assessment of masculine norms to examine whether adherence to masculine norms is associated with father involvement and whether this relationship is mediated by fathers' adherence to the new fatherhood ideal that promotes engaged, nurturing parenting. Results suggest that fathers who more closely adhere to masculine norms are less involved in instrumental and expressive parenting and are more likely to engage in harsh discipline than fathers who are less masculine. Adherence to masculine norms also reduces the likelihood of embracing the new fatherhood ideal, and adherence to the new fatherhood ideal at least partially mediates the relationship between masculinity and father involvement. Overall, despite changing expectations for fathers, hegemonic masculine norms continue to shape fathers' behavior.

Toward Father‐friendly Parenting Interventions: A Qualitative Study

“…Parenting interventions aim to change attitudes and beliefs that influence parenting as well as actual parenting practices (Gavita, Joyce, & David, ), so it is possible that interventions change masculine beliefs, particularly as they relate to parenting. A recent study found that fathers who adhere to masculine norms show less positive parenting, and more harsh parenting (Petts et al., ), and these are the parenting behaviours that interventions target. This study also found that fathers who adhere to strong masculine beliefs minimise the significance of their involvement in parenting (Petts et al., ).…”

“…A recent study found that fathers who adhere to masculine norms show less positive parenting, and more harsh parenting (Petts et al., ), and these are the parenting behaviours that interventions target. This study also found that fathers who adhere to strong masculine beliefs minimise the significance of their involvement in parenting (Petts et al., ). Thus, fathers with more masculine beliefs may benefit most from parenting programs, and messages regarding the importance of father involvement may be especially important for these fathers.…”

“…It is possible that fathers may simply be more comfortable and more able to discuss specific issues and concerns with group membership that only includes fathers. Given that previous research has highlighted the tensions between masculine and fathering identities (Dolan, ; Petts et al., ), some men may only feel comfortable with self‐disclosure around parenting with other men present. In addition, fathers may perceive that a male facilitator would better understand their concerns.…”

“…This research has identified barriers such as fathers’ low levels of awareness of parenting interventions (Bayley, Wallace, & Choudhry, ; Stahlschmidt et al., ) as well as personal beliefs about parenting interventions such as challenges to masculine identity, and stigma around help‐seeking (Berlyn, Wise, & Soriano, ; Cosson & Graham, ; Dolan, ; Scourfield, Allely, Coffey, & Yates, ). While fatherhood is changing and fathers are more involved in child care than ever before (Craig, Mullan, & Blaxland, ), expectations for fatherhood continue to reflect dominant masculine norms such as regarding division of labour, providing for the family, and a lack of emotional expression (Petts, Shafer, & Essig, ). While these traditional beliefs around masculinity may increase stigma around seeking help for parenting or child behaviour (Berlyn et al., ), there may also be other non‐gendered factors contributing to help‐seeking stigma.…”

Depressive Symptoms and Father Involvement in Canada: Evidence from a National Study

“…IN RECENT DECADES, fathers have become more involved in the lives of their children and normative expectations around the paternal role now include greater engagement in children's lives, caregiving tasks, and emotional work (Bianchi, Robinson, and Milkie 2006; Galinsky, Aumann, and Bond 2011; Scheibling 2018). At the same time, many fathers continue to be highly engaged in economic support for the family and in child discipline (Marsiglio and Roy 2012; Petts, Shafer, and Essig 2018). Given shifting and sometimes contradictory expectations around fatherhood in many Western countries, including Canada, greater scholarly attention has been paid to understanding fathering (Lamb 2010).…”