Stay-at-Home Fathering as a Feminist Opportunity: Perpetuating, Resisting, and Transforming Gender Relations of Caring and Earning

ABSTRACTThis study explains and critiques how discourse and related practices of stay-at-home fathering perpetuate, resist and/or potentially undo hegemonic gender relations of work and family. Changes in everyday micro-discourses of fathering can contribute to a feminist politics of macrostructural transformations in gender relations. First, masculinity in relation to historic cultural scripts of fathering is explored. Second, data collection and discourse analysis procedures employed in this study are described. Next, an analysis is presented of the various ways 45 at-home fathers’ use discourse to position themselves and their domestic labors in relation to hegemonic masculinity. Finally, three critical reflections are offered along with steps for future research and activism.