Changing the model of fatherhood Towards balancing parental roles and building balance between professional and family life

Abstract

The subject of theoretical reflections and empirical analysis is the change within one of the key social roles men play: the role of a father. An essential element of these transformations is the detraditionalization of the fatherhood and family model, associated with moving away from patriarchy and the emancipation of women and men from their traditional social roles. Such a change helps reconcile professional and family roles, improves the professional situation of mothers, and benefits the child, who gains a father – a caring guardian, partner, and friend instead of a strict and absent father. Considerations on the change in the fatherhood model are based on a literature review and reinforced by a pilot study conducted in the form of an online survey among pedagogy students regarding their preferred family model, fatherhood, and childcare. In the pilot study, 69 students participated, most of them women (89.9%). The majority (71%) indicated a partnership model, while 25% chose a mixed model. Only one person indicated a traditional model, and no one selected the reversed traditional model. Over 90% of the respondents expect equal involvement of fathers in childcare, while 10% see them in the role of “helpers.” The majority of respondents expect men to be regularly involved in household chores and yard work. Nearly half of the participants (N = 28) believe that a mother’s professional work positively influences a child’s development; N = 12 think it has a negative impact, and N=10 individuals believe it is indifferent. Regarding the father’s employment, values were similar (30, 11, 10). The most often preferred forms of childcare for the respondents are daycare centres (over 70% of respondents) and home care (25%). Most respondents (70%) would like to have two or three children, and another 12% – four or more, indicating that the demographic decline is not the result of changing preferences but rather other obstacles.