A continuum of caring masculinities: evidence from Khmer men’s childcare practices

ABSTRACT

This article aims to contribute to the debate about the link between ‘hegemonic masculinity’ and childcare practices in conceptions of ‘caring masculinities’. It conceptualises ‘caring masculinities’ along a continuum that encompasses ‘less-caring’ and ‘more-caring’ practices at each extreme, both shaped by men's perceptions of their intersecting identities as husbands and fathers. This draws on the concept of ‘caring’ in feminist moral philosophy and on sociological approaches to ‘masculinity’ to analyse empirical evidence of Khmer men’s childcare practices in Cambodia. The development of a continuum of caring masculinity enables us to investigate the extent to which, and the way in which, men are engaged in ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ care in their childcare practices, alongside their breadwinning roles. The empirical data are based on qualitative, in-depth interviews with 26 young fathers and 26 young mothers who have at least one young child aged six or younger and who reside in either urban or rural settings in Cambodia.

KEYWORDS:

• Caring masculinities
• fathers
• hegemonic masculinity
• parenting
• care

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr Md. Mozammel Haque who gave critical feedback on the first draft of this article. My sincere thanks also go to my supervisors, Associate Professor Dr Bina Fernandez and Dr Violeta Schubert who guided me on my PhD project from which this article is drawn. My sincere gratitude goes to Dr Bina Fernandez who reviewed my revised manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 This research uses this term to refer to economically developed countries.

2 This research uses this term to refer to economically marginalised countries.

3 These books are based on the original data collected for the 1989 version. The author conducted in-depth interviews with 50 couples and was observing 12 homes.

4 In this study, 36 per cent of 138 men oriented themselves towards breadwinning responsibility.

5 The time-use analysis of 50 dual-career couples indicated that 54 per cent were egalitarian couples, 40 per cent were transitional couples, and 6 per cent were traditional couples.

6 Interview, Vorak [father at community preschool E], KraingYov, 01 April 2018.

7 Interview, Sopheak [father at village A], Kraing Yov, 21 March 2018.

8 Interview, [father at NGO Preschool C], Phnom Penh, 26 April 2018.

9 Interviews: Manich [mother at community preschool E], Kraing Yov,13 March 2018; Sovath [father at community preschool E], KraingYov, 13 March 2018.

10 Interview, [father at Community Preschool E], Kraing Yov, 1 April 2018.

11 Interview, Kimsore [father at state preschool C], Setbo,10 April 2018.

12 Interview, Sokha [father at village A], Kraing Yov, 29 March 2018.

13 Interview, Phanith [Father at NGO Preschool A], Phnom Penh, 14 March 2018.

14 Interview, Vuthy [father at state preschool A], Phnom Penh, 12 March 2018.

15 Interview, Thearon [father at state preschool A], Phnom Penh, 18 March 2018.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sambath My

Sambath My completed his PhD in Development Studies at the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. His PhD field of research (FOR) codes are gender relations, studies of men and masculinities, social policy, and socio-economic development. He also completed his master’s degree in gender and development, gaining First Class Honours at the University of Melbourne. He has a decade of professional experience working for national and international non-government organisations in the fields of gender relations, women's rights, and men’s family violence in Cambodia.