Peer-reviewed article
Fatherhood, manhood, and personhood: South African fathers’ experiences of parental identity development
Divine Wayela Bitalo, Konrad Piotrowski, Luzelle Naudé ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study explores how eight South African fathers develop their identity as parents, examining the tension between traditional views of fatherhood as material provision and newer expectations of emotional engagement and nurturing. The fathers interviewed described struggling to balance being physically present and emotionally involved while meeting financial responsibilities in a difficult economic context. The research reveals that fathers value both family-centered and communal approaches to child-rearing, and despite challenges, show commitment to their parental role. The study highlights how cultural beliefs, socioeconomic conditions, and changing ideas of manhood shape how fathers understand their role.
Key points
- Fathers experience tension between old ideologies of material provision and new expectations of nurturing and emotional engagement
- Participants struggle to balance physical presence and emotional involvement with the reality of being financial providers in economically strained circumstances
- Fathers appreciated communal notions of child-rearing and the family unit as a foundation for raising children
- Despite challenges and reconsideration, participants demonstrated firm commitment to their parental identity
- Parental identity formation is shaped by personal, socio-economic, and cultural aspects specific to black South African men
Limitations
This is a small qualitative study of eight emerging and early adult black South African fathers, so findings may not generalise to other groups, ages, or contexts. The study does not measure child outcomes or compare different parenting approaches, so it cannot evaluate the effectiveness of particular fathering practices.
Abstract
Fatherhood is rooted in various cultural, societal, and even religious belief systems. In the South African context, where fathers are often perceived to be absent or uninvolved, fathers’ parental identity development might be hindered. This study focused on fathers’ commitment, exploration, and reconsideration in the process of forming a parental identity within the South African sociocultural context. Eight emerging and early adult black South African fathers were interviewed. Through reflexive thematic analysis, a nuanced visage of fatherhood that carries both the old ideologies of material provision and the newfound valuing of nurturing care was constructed. The complexities of balancing ideas of fatherhood, manhood, and personhood were evident in how participants struggled to align their aspirations of being physically present and emotionally engaged fathers with the reality of being providers in a financially strenuous context. Participants embraced the idea of a family unit as a foundation and also appreciated the value of communal notions of child-rearing. While the challenging nature of fatherhood was often met with reconsideration, a firm commitment was evident. This qualitative inquiry into the experiences of fatherhood addresses the personal, socio-economic, and cultural aspects embedded in the formation of parental identity among black South African men.