Generative Fathering: Beyond Deficit Perspectives

Much contemporary scholarship on fathers comes from a deficit model, focusing on men’s inadequacies as parents. This volume goes beyond a deficit model of fatherhood to what the editors term a ‘generative fathering perspective’. This approach sees the work fathers do for their children in terms of caring for and contributing to the life of the next generation. Following a description of generative fathering, placing it in contrast to the role-inadequacy perspective of fatherhood, the contributors elaborate on generative fathering in terms of gender, ethnicity and historical perspectives. They present research that helps readers to understand generative fathering in challenging life circumstances, such as special-needs children, teenage fathering, divorce and remarriage. A chapter on ways to teach about generative fathering concludes the volume.