1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910455684403321

Autore

Dowd Nancy E. <1949->

Titolo

Redefining fatherhood [[electronic resource] /] / Nancy E. Dowd

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : New York University Press, 2000

ISBN

0-8147-2114-1

0-585-43475-1

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (293 p.)

Disciplina

306.874/2

Soggetti

Fatherhood

Fathers

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-275) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction -- The context of fatherhood -- Fathers in practice : the conduct of fatherhood -- Fatherhood, work, and family -- Subgroups of fathers -- Summary -- Constitutional fathers -- Biological fathers -- Economic fathers -- A new model -- Gender challenges : masculinities and mothers -- Redefined fatherhood.

Sommario/riassunto

Most fathers parent less than most mothers. Those fathers who do parent equally or more so than mothers are poorly supported by our society. For children this means a loss of adult care, as well as an ongoing and sharply defined differentiation between fathers and mothers. Fathers are not present in children's lives to a significant degree, if at all, or when they are present, they are often rendered socially invisible. For many men, their parenthood is defined as biological or economic, while a minority of men struggle against the presumption that they are not caregivers. In Redefining Fatherhood, Nancy Dowd argues that this skewed social pattern is mirrored and supported by law. Dowd makes the case for reenvisioning fatherhood away from genes and dollars, and toward nurture. Integrating economic, social and legal aspects of fathering, she makes the case for focusing on social, nurturing behavior as the core meaning of fatherhood. In this nuanced and complex analysis, she explores the barriers to redefinition, including concepts of masculinity, the



interconnections between fathers and mothers, male violence and homophobia. Redefining Fatherhood offers a progressive view on how men, and society at large, can change understandings and practices of fatherhood.