Making Fathers: Masculinities and Social Change in the Ghanaian Context

Abstract

Framed within recent debates about hegemonic masculinity and in-depth historical and contemporary research on fatherhood and gender roles in Ghana, this article explores current ways of becoming and being a father in Ghana. Existing studies of fatherhood and masculinities in Ghana tend to present men in conjugal unions as patriarchal and dominating over their wives and children and fatherhood as related mainly to breadwinning and demonstrating sexual potency. Through observation studies, semi-structured interviews, and focusgroup discussions with fathers from urban and rural contexts, this article explores multiple ways of achieving masculinity through fatherhood and ways in which new fathering ideals and expectations come to be incorporated into local gendered ideals. It suggests that alongside values of providing for their families, ideals of involved fatherhood emerge among the study participants, indicating early signs of a shift away from established sociocultural gendered expectations of hegemonic masculinity.

Redefining Fatherhood in a Migratory Context: A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of African First-time Fathers in Belgium

“…Hence, it is expected that the “other support” is filled by extended female family members, especially at the critical moment of birth and early child care. However, there is a gradual erosion of these gendered models especially in urban cities with the growing number of women who can no longer fulfill these obligations because they also work long hours to support their families ( Ampim et al, 2020 ). Other studies also confirm how this widening rural–urban migration gap in sub-Saharan African contexts is increasingly separating many urban families from their extended family support ( Ampim et al, 2020 ; Badasu Delali, 2014 ; Waerness, 2012b).…”

“…However, there is a gradual erosion of these gendered models especially in urban cities with the growing number of women who can no longer fulfill these obligations because they also work long hours to support their families ( Ampim et al, 2020 ). Other studies also confirm how this widening rural–urban migration gap in sub-Saharan African contexts is increasingly separating many urban families from their extended family support ( Ampim et al, 2020 ; Badasu Delali, 2014 ; Waerness, 2012b). Hence, there is a possibility that this gap created by the absence of extended family support might inspire many African partners toward alternative ways of coping with gendered norms in the home.…”

“…Hence, there is a possibility that this gap created by the absence of extended family support might inspire many African partners toward alternative ways of coping with gendered norms in the home. A recent study in Ghana has reported a “private” social transformation in which fathers acknowledged supporting their partners in domestic work and child care at home ( Ampim et al., 2020 ). Sadly, in public, the fathers continued to assume the traditional gendered male stance out of fear of stigmatization ( Ampim et al, 2020 ).…”

“…A recent study in Ghana has reported a “private” social transformation in which fathers acknowledged supporting their partners in domestic work and child care at home ( Ampim et al., 2020 ). Sadly, in public, the fathers continued to assume the traditional gendered male stance out of fear of stigmatization ( Ampim et al, 2020 ). A study in Nigeria also acknowledges this group of “private” involved fathers too ( Onyeze-Joe & Godin, 2020 ).…”

‘I Do Not Want Her to be Doing Anything Stressful’: Men’s Involvement in Domestic Work During Pregnancy in Ghana

“…as long as 20 years ago, gracia Clark (1999) and Stefano Boni (2002) showed how women negotiated the performance of household duties, like cooking, in exchange for the provision of economic resources for the family. Studies from the past 10 years have similarly noted the growing expectation of men to do domestic work (ampim, Haukenes, and Blystad, 2020;Bougangue and Ling, 2017;ganle, 2015;Kwansa, 2012). existing studies argue that young men, men in monogamous relationships, educated young men and men in urban areas are likely to be less patriarchal and are more accepting of performing domestic duties that are culturally marked as feminine (arnot et al, 2012;Bougangue and Ling, 2017; Progress in Development Studies 22, 4 (2022) pp.…”