College of Health

Research on fatherhood has focused on the effects of father involvement on children. The authors instead examine the consequences of fatherhood for men’s personal growth and identity, social relationships, health and well-being, and work and education. They argue that fatherhood is a critical but hidden variable beneath knowledge about men’s lives. The authors highlight the growing groups of vulnerable fathers, but also suggest that these are, increasingly, every man. They discuss whether being a “good” father is becoming a new privilege, how social institutions and policies might be rearchitected to better support men and fathers, and new directions for scholarship.