‘I’ve Learnt What a Dad Should Do’: The Interaction of Masculine and Fathering Identities among Men Who Attended a ‘Dads Only’ Parenting Programme

Abstract

This article is based on qualitative research with men who voluntarily attended a ‘dads only’ parenting programme. The article explores men’s motivations to attend and demonstrates some of the challenges relating to masculine identity that fathers face when seeking support regarding their children. It also highlights how aspects of masculinity may shape men’s limited knowledge concerning the needs of their children and their capabilities as ‘involved’ fathers. The article then explores how men made sense of their changing thoughts and practices regarding fathering and fatherhood within the context of their conceptualisations of masculinity. Whilst men appeared to embrace parenting qualities more commonly associated with women they did not completely distance themselves from traditional fathering templates. Moreover, although they gained a sense of mastery over childcare, the ways in which men care for their children is inevitably context dependent and some demonstrations of involved fathering may clash with certain masculine ideals.

Keywords

fathers and fatherhood masculinities parenting programmes

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