Dads: Delights, desires and difficulties: A discussion of changes over the last 40 years in fathers' roles, attitudes and practices

Abstract

In this paper I discuss changes over the last forty years in fathers' roles, attitudes and practices. In general, fathers are more positive about their role and spend more time with their infants and four year olds. They now talk more with their mates about being a father, and are more likely to give equal importance to their partner's job. However, job pressures mean that they have difficulty balancing their priorities between work and home. Clearly, fathering is being taken seriously by the nineties fathers who feel a conflict between earning a living and spending more time with their children.