Perceptions and experiences of fathering among Black men who share residence with their children

The vast majority of fatherhood studies in South Africa have generally focused on absent, non-resident and unmarried fathers. Therefore, there has been a lack of studies that specifically investigate fathering perceptions and experiences, particularly among Black African men who are present in their children's lives and share residence with them. This study sought answers on how Black co-resident men perceive and experience fatherhood, through uncovering the fathers' understanding of their children's primary needs and factors that influence their parenting practices. Understanding their involvement included exploring their responsibilities, depth of their engagement, as well as the frequency of accessibility to their children. This study used a qualitative design, and specifically the exploratory approach, through face-to-face semi-structured interviews to understand the ways in which men who share residence with their children make sense of fatherhood. The interviews were conducted with twelve (12) Black fathers, sharing residence with their partners and young children aged zero to seventeen (17) years in Cape Town. Probing questions were asked to identify the meaning and unique understanding of their parenting practices, as well as their perceptions about their children's primary needs. Lamb et al.'s (1985) fathering involvement theoretical framework was used to further identify how the participants characterise responsibility, engagement and accessibility in their involvement with their children. The findings of this study suggested that resident fathers are generally involved in their children's lives right from conception. However, their level of involvement was different based on their cultural, socio-economic, and social experiences. Most fathers in this study still struggled to adjust their behaviour around child-care activities, such as changing nappies. Furthermore, they still considered child-care activities as something that was the responsibility of the mother, and when they got involved, they regarded that as helping the mother. Finally, this study confirmed that co-resident fathers are involved, and willing to participate, but often chose the activities they preferred, such as playing with or entertaining their children rather than actual child-caring roles.

Grantor

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Mazibuko, Sizakele

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Malinga, Mandisa

• Clinical psychology

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33798

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/33798