Fatherhood: a post-structural feminist approach examining gender roles in father-child relationships

Research shows that societal expectations based on gender have negative impacts on the mental well-being of men. This then promotes the need to consider how gender roles influence fatherhood, as the foundation of mental health is laid in early childhood, and how fathers establish early perceptions of gender with their children, which may have long term implications. This qualitative research study explored the perceived mental well-being in relation to gender roles of five fathers from Ontario, Canada, and sought to understand how gender roles influence what fathers want their children to know about gender. The findings may lead to the identification of ways for men to be supported in their role as fathers, which may influence how fathers support the healthy development of their children. A post-structural feminist approach was used to encourage the deconstruction of heteronormativity and the construction of practices that are inclusive of all sexes, genders and sexualities. Through using a constructivist worldview and applying a phenomenological design of inquiry using semi-structured interviews, theories were created from multiple perspectives of gender roles as they relate to paternal experiences. Key themes were identified during data analysis relating to how gender and gender roles are defined, changing societal expectations, and how these factors relate to the experiences and practices of the fathers who participated in this study. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research are discussed.