The "family model" has changed significantly in recent years. More and more fathers are taking an active role in the care and upbringing of their children and parental leave is increasingly being shared between mothers and fathers.
What constitutes the "new" fathers and to what extent has a new understanding of their role been established with them? How is this trend portrayed in the media? What types of fathers are there?
Daniel Stachowiak takes a look at the development of the father role. He describes the obstacles that committed fathers have to face and explains how social work can help. His book is aimed at interested fathers, social workers/educators as well as managers, whom he recommends to make their companies family-friendly for fathers as well.
From the contents:
- Family Policy;
- Change of consciousness;
- understanding of roles;
- Equality;
- Fathers' work;
- Family income
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Family and family law through the ages
2.1 The development of the father role within the family since the end of the 18th century
2.2 The development of family law for the family
3 The new modern’ Fathers in the 21st century
4 The Diversity of the Father Role – Typing Approaches in Family Research
4.1 The role of the father in the family after Fthenakis/Minsel (2002)
4.2 MannsBilder – A Decade of Men's Development after Zulehner (2003)
4.3 Fatherhood from the point of view of fathers – Subjective paternity concepts according to Matzner (2004)
4.4 New fathers – different children? Fatherhood, family triad and socialization after Bambey/Gumbinger (2006)
4.5 Summary
5 Obstacles and difficulties for committed fatherhood
5.1 Family income
5.2 mothers
5.3 Working environment and expectations
5.4 The insecurity of fathers
6 Father's work in social work
6.1 Professionalism in fathers' work
6.2 Approaches of Father's Work in Social Work
7 Fathers in family policy
8 Conclusion and outlook
Objectives & Core Topics
The bachelor thesis aims to investigate the evolving role of fathers in modern society, analyzing historical developments in family law and current research on father types to identify challenges and potential support structures within social work.
- Historical transformation of the father role and family law since the 18th century.
- Typification of modern father figures through empirical sociological research.
- Analysis of obstacles to committed fatherhood, including economic and social factors.
- Professionalization of "father's work" as a specialized field in social work.
- Evaluation of family policy frameworks and their impact on paternal roles.
Excerpt from the book
The Diversity of the Father Role – Typing Approaches in Family Research
The view of fathers in the field of family research has only a short history (cf. Seiffge-Krenke 2016, p. 5). Since the beginning of family research about 90 years ago, the research focus was initially mainly on the 'mother-child relationship'. For about 40 years we have been researching fathers (cf. ibid.). In these works, however, violence and abuse of fathers in the relationship with their children were mainly addressed (cf. ibid.). On the other hand, how fathers who did not integrate into this group behaved in a 'normal' family structure and what the father-child relationship and the paternal role within the family looked like was initially ignored in family research (cf. ibid., p. 6). It was not until 1985 that this changed. Fthenakis judged with his second volume fathers for the first time a look at the role of fathers in different family structures (cf. Meuser 2012a, p. 68).
Fthenakis described the social change during this period as a 'soft revolution', in which the organisation and division of roles within the traditional family changed (cf. Fthenakis 1985b, p. 3). In particular, he described the importance of the father in relation to various family forms, which have gained considerably in diversity as a result of social change (cf. ibid., p. 4 et seq.). In this context, as early as 1985 he referred to the importance of a "[...] extended definition of paternity, which, in addition to the role of breadwinner, also includes the direct participation of the father in the care and education of children" (ibid., p. 4). He also recognized the need to anchor fathers' research as part of family research in order to gain appropriate insights into fathers and their role within the family (cf. ibid.).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides the context of the changing "model" family and defines the scope of the thesis regarding modern fatherhood and the requirements for social work.
2 Family and family law through the ages: Offers a historical overview of how the role of the father and family legal frameworks have evolved from the 18th century to the present.
3 The new modern’ Fathers in the 21st century: Discusses the transition from the traditional sole-breadwinner model to modern, egalitarian concepts of paternity amid social modernization.
4 The Diversity of the Father Role – Typing Approaches in Family Research: Examines four major research studies that categorize fathers into different types based on their attitudes, behaviors, and family dynamics.
5 Obstacles and difficulties for committed fatherhood: Analyzes barriers such as financial dependency, maternal gatekeeping, and professional workplace pressures that hinder active fatherhood.
6 Father's work in social work: Describes the necessity, goals, and professional standards of integrating "father's work" as a distinct intervention area within social services.
7 Fathers in family policy: Evaluates political regulations and the growing sensitivity of family policy towards supporting active fathers and balancing work-life commitments.
8 Conclusion and outlook: Summarizes the thesis findings and suggests that achieving a truly egalitarian society requires continued effort from both policymakers and employers.
Keywords
New fathers, modern fatherhood, egalitarian, paternity, father types, social work, family law, breadwinner, committed fatherhood, family policy, father's work, role change, parental leave, family research, socialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The work examines the transformation of the father role in families, the influence of family law and policy, and the resulting challenges for fathers who strive for more active involvement in child-rearing.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The central fields include the historical development of the father figure, the classification of different modern "father types," obstacles such as social and economic barriers, and the professionalization of father-focused social work.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The aim is to identify how the role of the father has changed, which obstacles prevent the realization of modern fatherhood, and how social work can provide targeted support to fathers.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The thesis relies on a comprehensive literature review and the analysis of multiple empirical sociological studies and typologies regarding paternity and family structures.
What does the main body cover?
It covers the historical background, a detailed analysis of four key father research studies, specific obstacles (financial, structural, and social), and the implementation of father-specific programs in social services.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include "new fathers," "egalitarian paternity," "father types," "family policy," and "social work."
What is meant by the phenomenon of "Hegemonic Motherhood"?
It describes a gatekeeping behavior where mothers, due to traditional role perceptions, may consciously or unconsciously limit a father's ability to participate in childcare or housework.
Why do many fathers feel "insecure"?
Many modern fathers lack positive role models from their own childhoods and face a conflict between high societal expectations for emotional involvement and a professional world that still prioritizes the traditional breadwinner model.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Stachowiak (Author), 2020, Who are the "new" fathers? The changing role of fathers in the family and family policy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1187318
