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Men’s Pathways to Parenthood

Men’s Pathways to Parenthood

How does the decision to become a parent unfold for heterosexual men? Is becoming a father a ‘decision’ at all or a series of events? These questions are the starting point for this critical book, in which the authors unravel the social and interpersonal processes shaped by deeply entrenched socio-cultural norms that come to bear on parenthood decision-making in the South African context. Drawing on the narratives of white, Afrikaans women and men, Men’s Pathways to Parenthood uses an innovative discursive method to illuminate the roles masculinity, whiteness, class, and heteronormativity play in these accounts. Men’s Pathways to Parenthood addresses an under-researched topic in gender studies namely, men and reproductive decision-making and will be an important resource for scholars in gender studies, sexualities, and reproductive health, as well as those interested in innovative approaches to discursive research.

HSRC Press

Product Information

Format: 

240mm x 168mm (Hard Cover)

Pages: 

208

ISBN-13: 

978-0-7969-2503-9

Publish Year: 

2015

Rights: 

World Rights
How does the decision to become a parent unfold for heterosexual men? Is becoming a father a ‘decision’ at all or a series of events? These questions are the starting point for this critical book, in which the authors unravel the social and interpersonal processes shaped by deeply entrenched socio-cultural norms that come to bear on parenthood decision-making in the South African context. Drawing on the narratives of white, Afrikaans women and men, Men’s Pathways to Parenthood uses an innovative discursive method to illuminate the roles masculinity, whiteness, class, and heteronormativity play in these accounts. Men’s Pathways to Parenthood addresses an under-researched topic in gender studies namely, men and reproductive decision-making and will be an important resource for scholars in gender studies, sexualities, and reproductive health, as well as those interested in innovative approaches to discursive research.

Preface
Chapter 1���������� Our research: Initial questions and changing tack

Chapter 2���������� Exploring the operation of procreative heteronormativity in participants’ narratives about pathways to parenthood

Chapter 3���������� Talking against choice and planning: Automatic childbearing, romance, love and the sacralised child

Chapter 4���������� Constructing a procreation imperative: Glorifying parenthood and denigrating ‘childlessness’

Chapter 5���������� Children need a mom and a dad: The marriage�procreation bond and the conjugalisation of reproduction

Chapter 6���������� Daddy issues: The role and rule of the father

Chapter 7���������� Gender norms, procreative heteronormativity, resistance and possibilities

Appendix 1������� Interview guides
Appendix 2������� Demographic details
Appendix 3������� Transcription conventions
References
Contributors
Index