Fatherhood

In the traditional family structure, mothers are responsible for childcare and fathers are the primary breadwinners as heads of the family. In modern society, however, fathers are expected to be more involved in parenting since women have joined the labor force. Thus, both parents are expected to be responsible for childcare and the financial well-being of the family. Work is connected to parenting for men, so fatherhood is negatively affected by financial strain and other work-related stressors. In particular, low-income fathers feel more pressure and often face challenging conditions in the workforce due to their responsibility. These circumstances may negatively impact the parental as well as the couple’s relationship. This entry examines types of fathers, the role of fathers in a child’s life, father–child interactions, ...