Involved fatherhood in the Nordic context: dominant narratives, divergent approaches

Abstract

This paper focuses on narratives and practices of ‘involved fatherhood’, the ideal of an emotionally present and nurturing father. The geographical context of the study is Iceland, one of the ‘father-friendly’ Nordic welfare states. Of particular concern in this paper are connections between involved fatherhood and constructions of masculinity. The emergence of involved fatherhood is often linked to changes in masculinity ideals, from ‘old’ to ‘new’. Our analysis, which is based on qualitative interviews with parents of young children, indicates a more complex picture. Our point of departure is the narrative of involved fatherhood which is dominant in Nordic policy formation. This narrative is strongly linked to early childhood care and the development of fathers’ individual caring practices – often presented as a prerequisite for gender equal parenting. Other types of fathering are positioned in contrast, representing outdated and deficit forms of fathering. Our analysis suggests, however, that involved fatherhood is portrayed and enacted through practices linked to both ‘orthodox’ and ‘inclusive’ masculinity, both among middle-class fathers who identify with the primary carer narrative and a more diverse group of fathers who do not. We conclude that involved fatherhood comes in different forms that should be further explored in terms of their respective potential and limitations for gender equal parenting.

Keywords:

• fathering
• Iceland
• involved fatherhood
• men/masculinity
• parental leave

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the editors of NORMA, and the anonymous referees for giving us valuable and helpful comments on our paper.

Notes on contributors

Gunhild R. Farstad (MA) works as an assistant professor at Diakonhjemmet University College, at the institute for social work and family therapy (ISF). Her work-in-progress Ph.D. thesis is funded by NorForsk through the Nordic Centre of Excellence, Reassessing the Nordic Welfare Model (REASSESS). Issues concerning the relationship between the Nordic policy of granting parental leave for fathers, and fatherhood involvement in children's lives are at the centre of her research. Her previous publications on this topic include: ‘Hva betyr det å ta pappaperm? Når fedrekvotens intensjoner møter menns ulike farskapsmodeller’ [What does it mean to take daddy's leave? When the intentions of the father's quota meets men's different fatherhood models] (Sosiologi i dag), ‘Difference and equality. Icelandic parents’ division of parental leave within the context of a childcare gap’ (Community, Work and Family), and ‘Classed parental practices in a modern welfare state: caring for the under threes in Norway’ (Critical Social Policy, with co-author Kari Stefansen).

Kari Stefansen (Ph.D.) works as a senior researcher at Norwegian Social Research at Oslo and Akershus Univerity College of Applied Sciences. The relationship between the social institution of parenthood and social class within the context of the Nordic welfare state has been a main topic of her research. Papers on this topic include ‘Social variation in perceived parenting styles among Norwegian adolescents’ (Child Indicators Research, co-author Jon-Ivar Elstad), ‘Enriching intimacy: The role of the emotional in the resourcing of middle-class children’ (British Journal of Sociology of Education, co-author Helene Aarseth) and ‘Selective identification, quiet distancing: Understanding the working-class response to the Nordic daycare model’ (The Sociological Review, co-author Ketil Skogen). Her current research focuses on the parent-child relationship during adolescence, and issues such as intimacy, care and control.

Notes

1. Act no. 95/2000.

2. Statistics Iceland: ‘Recipients of payments in relation to maternity/paternity leave by birth year of child 2001–2011,’ retrieved 15 May 2013.

3. Quotations are presented verbatim in English, except for one interview that was translated from Danish. Names are replaced by pseudonyms for the sake of anonymity.