Relative Visibility Invisibility of Fathering

1
Relative Visibility Invisibility of Fathering

• Some Perspectives from Canadian Fathers
• Anna Dienhart, University of Guelph
• SSHRC CURA funded research

2
Visibility Invisibility Context and Meaning

• How are the changing (or not) roles of men and
  women in the private (family) and public spheres
  perceived and depicted by fathers and mothers.
• Idea of gaze gtgt who sees and how does seeing
  self and being seen by others influence
  men/fathers?
• Implications valuing men as fathers.

3
Current Study - Context and Methodology

• FIRA-CURA
• National sample
• 7 clusters
• Qualitative Data
• Visibility as emergent analytical theme.
• Descriptive

4
Study Data and Demographics

• Main study sample
• 215 fathers participated in study.
• 75 of men employed outside home.
• 25 of men were stay at home parents or worked
  part-time to be available to provide significant
  child-care.
• 35 of men reported incomes below 20,000.
• 63 of men reported having some post-secondary
  education.
• 25 of men reported being born outside of Canada.
• Sub-sample gt across 7 clusters, transcripts coded
  for visibility / invisibility theme gt not all men
  represented.

5
Analytical Frame

• Continuum of Visibility / Invisibility
• Who in the mans life sees and values his
  parenting?
• Where?
• What is seen / not seen valued and not valued?

6
Prominent Themes Visibility / Invisibility

• Across all clusters, men described experiences of
  being seen and not seen as fathers.
• Disrupted fatherhood identities.
• Double edge in being seen / not seen.

7
Prominent Themes Visibility / Invisibility

• Dominance of traditional gender assumptions and
  associations.
• Mothering as gold standard.
• Provider role still dominant for men.
• Tensions re. mans fatherhood identity
• Accepting dominant cultural gender assumptions
• Self-defining

8
Prominent Themes Visibility / Invisibility

• Double edge
• Visibility
• Valuing and dismissing others views.
• Perceptions of a judgmental gaze.
• Invisibility
• Protection from scrutiny
• Pro-active response

9
Prominent Themes Visibility / Invisibility

• Active change agents.
• Identity
• Interpersonal relationships
• Institutional / Cultural

10
Prominent Themes Visibility / Invisibility

• Intensification Themes
• Theme 1 Take personal risk / responsibility
• Theme 2 Challenge Gender Myths
• Theme 3 Going public / Stepping Into View
• Theme 4 Challenge Institutional Practices

11
Implications for Future Research Practice

• Limitation gt interviews not focused on questions
  of visibility invisibility.
• Future Research gt in-depth interviews / increased
  analytical richness include general
  men/fathers.
• Future Research gt deconstructing dominant
  discourses re. fathering / fatherhood.

12
Implications for Future Research Practice

• Practitioners gt explore tensions in visibility
  and invisibility and implications for father
  involvement.
• Practitioners gt pay attention to ways men defer
  to women and participate in devaluation of their
  involvement.
• Practitioners gt invite women to question their
  discourse practices re. fathering and
  fatherhood.