Fatherhood Education From a Cultural Perspective: Evolving Roles and Identities After a Fatherhood Intervention for Latinos in South Florida

ABSTRACT

This article uses gender-role theory to consider the involvement of Latino fathers in their children’s lives as a result of participating in a fatherhood educational intervention. Open-ended interviews (n = 48) were conducted with participants of the program. Findings revealed that the content of the group intervention encouraged fathers to redefine their identity as a male and father by examining their own communication, discipline, and self-control as well as recognizing certain aspects of Latino culture. Implications of this study can be used to design culturally competent behavioral interventions for Latino fathers.

KEY WORDS:

• Culturally appropriate educational interventions
• fatherhood program
• gender-role theory
• Latino fathers

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the funders of enFAMILIA’s fatherhood program, the Office of Family Assistance in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Notes

¹ The terms Latino and Hispanic are used interchangeably in this article.