“Not My Father’s Son”: Qualitative Investigation of U.S. Men’s Perceptions of Their Fathers’ Expectations and Influence

Abstract

The present study examined men's perceptions of their father's general expectations of them when they were growing up and what the effects have been on their lives. Previous research suggests fathers influence sons' development, but few studies have examined sons' perceptions qualitatively. Participants were 252 demographically diverse community-dwelling and college men (ages 18-78; 36.5% men of color). Descriptive coding and content analysis were used to analyze written open-ended responses from an online questionnaire. Results suggest that fathers' expectations for their sons are quite influential. Common topics of expectations reported by participants included Academics, Work Ethic, Athletics, Family, Career, Independence and Self-Reliance, Authenticity, and Happiness. Sons who perceived their fathers as supporting their authentic selves without having unattainable expectations reported positive impacts. Rigid and ill-fitting expectations may have negative effects. These findings suggest fathers are an important influence on their sons with positive or negative impacts on their well-being, depending on how well the expectations fit their sons.

“Gambling With My Cards Face Up”: Vulnerability as a Risky Act Among Men

“…Results frequently showed how hegemonic masculinity can be passed from fathers to sons, supporting prior scholarship that claims that a father’s expectations generally has an important influence on sons (Levant et al, 2018). Therefore, participants made sense of their choice to suppress vulnerable feelings by telling stories of what they observed in other men.…”

“…Unless men resist the tendency to suppress and begin setting positive examples of vulnerability, their children will observe and mimic the same behavior, contributing to the propagation of the culture. Fathers can have a positive impact on their sons’ wellbeing by encouraging their sons to be their authentic selves (Levant et al, 2018), which may be connected to conversations about emotional vulnerability.…”

“Who Knows, You May Overpower Him”: Narratives and Experiences of Masculinities Among the Dagaaba Youth of Northwestern Ghana

“…By ignoring the repercussions of violence and his own safety, as well as the potential health implications, he simultaneously expresses belonging, social networking, and connectivity as he could follow his senior brother to the house. This finding did not find resonance with prevailing debates suggesting that fathers serve as strict gender role models for their sons’ conformity and adherence to traditional masculine norms (Clowes, Ratele, & Shefer, 2013; Epstein & Ward, 2011; Levant, Zachary, Gerdes, Jadaszewski, & Kathleen, 2017; Ratele, Shefer, & Clowes, 2012). Rather, our analysis contributes to a broader debate on the psychology of men and masculinities, arguing that brothers and peers also play influential roles in “making men” out of these men.…”

“…Against this backdrop, psychologists may be interested in decoding the range of psychological investment that different men pursue to be seen as “real men,” as well as the consequences of the lack thereof, and what this means for negotiating alternative identities in a context in which violence is a celebrated virtue in the formation of gendered identities. We are of the view that feminists and pro-feminists should certainly be worried over this frame of thinking, especially in an era characterized by growing calls for gender-equitable discourses and relationships (Levant et al, 2017). The importance of supportive and gender-conscious parenting becomes a useful gateway in fostering less problematic masculinities among young men (hooks, 2000).…”

Manning up while growing up: A developmental-contextual perspective on masculine gender-role socialization in adolescence.

“…For example, many boys and men identify their families of origin as a primary source of their masculinity exposure and learning. In retrospective interviews of primarily white young men, most recall parents emphasizing masculine-typed values for strength, emotional control, achievement and success, and independence (e.g., Epstein & Ward, 2011; Levant et al, 2018; Raffaelli & Ontai, 2004). Even in adolescence, boys are able to articulate the pressures they feel from parents to be tough (Epstein & Ward, 2011) and proficient in various areas, particularly athletics and academics (O’Beaglaoich et al, 2015).…”