The identity transformation affecting both men and women and structural changes in the family and in the labour market in the last few decades have led to a reflection on the role of the so-called "involved/new fathers" and of fatherhood-related practices. Several empirical studies, in fact, highlight a change in the father role, both in and outside Italy, towards a more family involved style of male parenthood. Nevertheless, the strong relationship between fathers and work remains a pivotal trait in a man’s identity: the breadwinner model is, in fact, still thriving in many European countries, including Italy. One of the most relevant issues in this scenario is the complex relationship between family and work. This paper is aimed at exploring men’s and fathers’ ideas and opinions on their involvement in work, family life and care, in order to identify their features in contemporary society. This topic will be analysed in depth with the help of data from the European Values Study, whose fourth wave was conducted in47 European countries including Italy, in 2008-2009.This survey helps detect some structural aspects and values concerning fundamental aspects of life, such as marriage and the family, work, leisure time, religion and inter-generational relationships.
He consults with corporations, NGOs, and public sector organizations all over the world on gender equity issues, including work-family balance, reducing workplace discrimination, and promoting diversity.
In the light of relevant and current debate on the changing role of fathers, this contribution is aimed at analysing the international literature on fatherhood, comparing two distinct periods of time, from the social, cultural and demographic point of view: the years 1980–1999 and the new millennium. This will contribute to identifying features of the fatherhood transformation in these two contexts, which in fact refer to two generations of fathers. The research questions to be answered are: Which aspects characterize the process of fatherhood transformation, in an intergenerational perspective? How are paternal childcare practices represented in different historical and social periods? An analysis of the academic publications on fathers in Scopus and Google Scholar will be conducted, in the two temporal periods indicated, using T-Lab software, in order to map fathers’ role representations.
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