Mainstream sociological discussions of masculinity focus on a universal, institutionalized form of masculinity that has been discussed in the context of marriage (Nock 1998; Townsend 2002). In contrast, critical gender perspectives suggest social structures and interactions influence men’s masculinities (Connell 1987; Connell and Messerschmidt 2005).
The author explores what men say about being fathers, and about what fatherhood means to them. He shows how men negotiate the prevailing cultural values about fatherhood, marriage, employment, and home ownership that he conceptualizes as a "package deal" and also identifies the conflicts and contradictions within the gendered expectations of men and fathers, and analyzes the social and economic
The author explores what men say about being fathers, and about what fatherhood means to them. He shows how men negotiate the prevailing cultural values about fatherhood, marriage, employment, and home ownership that he conceptualizes as a "package deal" and also identifies the conflicts and contradictions within the gendered expectations of men and fathers, and analyzes the social and economic