The Changing Culture of Fatherhood in Comic‐Strip Families: A Six‐Decade Analysis

Abstract

A content analysis of 490 Father's Day and Mother's Day comic strips published from 1940 to 1999 indicates that the culture of fatherhood has fluctuated since World War II. “Incompetent” fathers appeared frequently in the late 1940s, early 1950s, and late 1960s but were rarer in the late 1950s, early and late 1970s, early 1980s, and early 1990s. Fathers who were mocked were especially common in the early and late 1960s and early 1980s but were less common in the late 1940s, early and late 1950s, and early and late 1970s. Fathers who were nurturant and supportive toward children were most evident in the late 1940s, early 1950s, and early and late 1990s, with the longitudinal pattern resembling a U‐shaped curve. Differences between fathers and mothers also oscillated from one decade to the next.

A Review of the Literature on the Social and Economic Determinants of Parental Time

“…It is usually explained with a reference to the norm in Western societies that childcare is typically a woman's responsibility. This norm has however, partly changed since the 1970s as a result of the paradigmatic shift in the culture of fatherhood with the emergence of the concept of the ''involved father'' (LaRossa et al 2000;Pleck 1997;Sayer et al 2004a). As a result, time devoted to childcare activities has become more evenly distributed between parents, especially in dual-earner households (Zuzanek 2001).…”

The Depictions of Fathers and Children in Best-Selling Picture Books in the United States: A Hybrid Semiotic Analysis

“…Research that examines the culture of fatherhood has considered the idea (or myth) of a "new father" image that surfaced some time after the 1970s (Atkinson & Blackwelder, 1993;Flannery Quinn, 2006;LaRossa et al, 2000). This "new father" is thought to be a father who is more active in parenting and characterized by nurturing and supportive parenting behaviors.…”

The persistence of implicit behavioral associations for moms and dads

“…The subtype of the ''new, involved father" has gained prominence in the popular media and academic works (e.g., ''positively involved fathering", Pleck, 1997; see Marks & Palkovitz, 2004), but at least some researchers argue this change is more in the ''culture of fatherhood" than in actual behavior (LaRossa, 1988). Analyzes of print media indicate the portrayal of dads as nurturers versus providers has not simply increased in a linear manner over the past century, but rather has alternated over various time periods with dads defined as providers primarily when fertility rates are high (Atkinson & Blackwelder, 1993;LaRossa, Jaret, Gadgil, & Wynn, 2000).…”