Transition to fatherhood: New perspectives in the global context of changing men's identities

Abstract

The proposed thematic session aims to highlight the main challenges that the cultural and structural changes within the families and in gender relations and the changing social expectations about men's involvement in the care of children and about fatherhood pose to men's and fathers’ identity. Fathering in contemporary society requires men to be simultaneously provider, guide, household help and nurturer. The difficulties of these roles, and the tensions they sometimes produce, challenge men's relationships with their female partners, the meaning and place of work in their lives and their sense of self as competent adults. We will also explore the relationship between transitions to fatherhoods and the challenges of balancing work and family obligations. How to balance paid work, other interests and relationships with responsibilities, anxieties and pleasures of childrearing are today concerns for both men and women.

Keywords:

• gender
• men
• masculinity
• fatherhood
• transition to fatherhood

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Isabella Crespi is associate professor in Family sociology and Cultural sociology at the Faculty of Education, University of Macerata, Italy. She has a Ph.D. in Sociology and Methodology of research (Catholic University of Milan). She is coordinator of the ESA RN13 Sociology of Families and Intimate Lives (2015-2017). Current research activities include studies about family, gender and work in European social policies but also gender identity process, the definition of difference, diversity and inequality. Her recent publications include: Crespi I., Bould S. and Schmaus G., The cost of a child, mother's employment behavior and economic insecurity in Europe, International Review of Sociology, n. 1, 2012; I. Crespi and G. Rossi (eds.), Families, welfare state and social changes in the European context, Special issue, International Sociological Review, n. 3, 2013.

Elisabetta Ruspini is senior associate professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Milano-Bicocca. She coordinates the Research Section ‘Studi di Genere' (Gender Studies) part of the AIS (Associazione Italiana di Sociologia-Italian Sociological Association). She is a board member of the ESA RN33 (Women's and Gender Studies). She is the main editor of the book series ‘Generi, Culture, Sessualita'' (Gender, Cultures, Sexualities), Franco Angeli, Milano. Her primary areas of research in the last few years have been: the social construction of gender; changing femininities and masculinities; men and masculinities; non-heterosexual parenting; sexualities and culture; gender-sensitive research. Her authored or edited books include: Diversity in Family Life. Gender, Relationships and Social Change (Bristol, 2013); Men and Masculinities around the World. Transforming Men's Practices (edited with Jeff Hearn, Bob Pease, Keith Pringle, Basingstoke, 2011); Monoparentalité, homoparentalité, transparentalité en France et en Italie. Tendances, défis et nouvelles exigences (Paris, 2010).