‘I think my son is a wonderful chap’: working-class and middle-class fathers’ narratives of their son’s ADHD diagnosis and medication

Abstract

This article adds to the emergent literature on classed fathering by exploring how middle-class and working-class fathers relate to their sons’ ADHD diagnosis. The strong requirement on parents to adhere to a dominant medical discourse of ADHD is used as a case to explore how the entwinement of class and gender shape different fathering practices. The article draws on in-depth interviews with 16 fathers of boys diagnosed with ADHD. These interviews were part of a larger study including interviews with children and their mothers. All the fathers interviewed were critical of the medical understanding of their sons’ behaviour, and seemed, in different ways to defend their sons against the diagnosis and medication. However, this resistance is much clearer in the working-class fathers’ narratives than in the middle-class fathers’. We argue that classed masculinities allow these fathers to take on a love-driven identification with their sons’ problematic masculine behaviour. Seen in a wider context, the fathers’ critical voices offer considerable resistance to the medicalisation discourse, and thus also to currently dominant parenting regimes.

‘That thing in his head’: Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal Australian caregiver responses to neurodevelopmental disability diagnoses

“…Where there is potential for self‐blame by caregivers for their children’s conditions, such as in the case of FASD, shame responses to diagnosis are of particular concern (Olsvold et al . 2019, Zimmerman et al . 2015).…”

“…In a study of middle class fathers’ experiences of ADHD for their child, fathers described feeling pressure to seek a medical diagnosis for what they felt was a social problem in order to receive support (Olsvold et al . 2019). Middle class fathers were more likely than fathers from a low socioeconomic group to describe shame and guilt about having a child who misbehaved or was uncontrollable (Olsvold et al .…”

“…Middle class fathers were more likely than fathers from a low socioeconomic group to describe shame and guilt about having a child who misbehaved or was uncontrollable (Olsvold et al . 2019). Studies of mothers’ parenting children with disabilities have also captured the stigma associated with the difficult work they undertake navigating systems of care and advocating their children’s needs (Blum 2015, Landsman 2009, Ryan and Runswick‐Cole 2008).…”

“…Caregivers’ experiences of shame in response to diagnosis has also been raised in relation to mental health conditions and conduct disorders (Olsvold et al . 2019), and autism and FASD (Corrigan et al . 2017).…”

What does the term childhood behavioural disorders mean in the context of Aboriginal culture within Australia? Part 2: Historical and social context

“…For parents, having a child who misbehaves is associated with stigma and feelings of shame and guilt. Parents often feel pressured to seek a medical diagnosis for what they often believe is a social problem, in order to receive support 44 . In many ways, a power differential exists whereby the clinician not only defines and labels behaviour but also acts as a gateway to accessing resources 43 .…”