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What is 'new' about fatherhood? The social construction of fatherhood in France and the UK

Gregory, A; Milner, S

Authors

A Gregory

S Milner



Abstract

This article reviews the way that fatherhood is constructed in the public discourse and more broadly in the public sphere in the UK and France by examining (1) the fatherhood regime and its influence on the construction of fatherhood in the two countries; (2) gender attitudes and parenting roles; and (3) popular images of fatherhood, particularly as represented in women’s and men’s magazines in France and in the UK. The authors explore to what extent “new” features of fatherhood in the two countries are reflected in its public representation and how this representation is influenced by national fatherhood regimes and notably social policy. The authors find that “new fatherhood” is finding its way into popular representations of fatherhood in both countries, but that cultural products tend to be conservative in their representations and reinforce existing stereotypes rather than innovative in representations of gender relations.

Citation

Gregory, A., & Milner, S. (2011). What is 'new' about fatherhood? The social construction of fatherhood in France and the UK. Men and Masculinities, 14(5), 588-606. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X11412940

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Jul 6, 2011
Publication Date Dec 1, 2011
Deposit Date Sep 19, 2011
Journal Men and Masculinities
Print ISSN 1097-184X
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 14
Issue 5
Pages 588-606
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X11412940
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1097184X11412940
Related Public URLs http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journals/Journal200971