3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/45
Browse
4 results
Search Results
Item The perceptions of fatherhood for infertile men in South Africa(2019) Mohamed, SuriyaWithin research, the inability to experience parenthood becomes a secondary issue for infertile men, as most studies tend to focus on the psychological health concerns of infertility instead of social influences contributing to it. Fatherhood is an important aspect of masculinity and infertility presents a major obstacle to achieving it. Information concerning the desire for fatherhood is limited (Fisher & Hammarberg et al., 2012), especially in South African contexts, where fatherhood is a valuable part of one’s culture and status as a patriarchal figure (Richter & Morrell, 2006). The impact of male factor infertility becomes a challenge for men who are unable to participate in this experience as sociocultural expectations and norms are predominantly pro-reproduction and influence how men view fatherhood (Burton, 2014; Sylvest et al., 2014). This qualitative study explored the participants’ experiences of infertility and their perceptions of fatherhood by taking to account their concerns with their masculine identity. A phenomenological approach guided data in exploring the relationship between the perceptions of fatherhood and the masculine identity of infertile men, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 2004). Twenty-one men diagnosed with male-factor infertility between 26 to 43 years old were included in the study. Data was collected through volunteer sampling using anonymous self-report questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of the participants perceived fatherhood as valuable and desirable. Of these participants, fatherhood was perceived as either a personal desire outside of the social and gender role, whilst other participants perceived the desire for fatherhood in relation to their identity as a man in society.Item The experiences of fatherhood in dual earner families(2018) Kelly, CheThere is an increase in dual earner families globally and in South Africa. This increase is attributed to mothers’ increased participation in the labour force. Unlike a nuclear single earner family where the provider role is fulfilled by the father, in a dual earner family both parents work to earn an income. Therefore the provider role is fulfilled by both mother and father. From this observation this study contends that the dual earner family phenomenon bears significance on the way fathers’ experience fatherhood in a family where the other parent also fulfils the provider role. This contention is based on the long-established concept that being a good provider is the epitome of fatherhood. The aim of this study was to explore young fathers’ subjective experiences of fatherhood in a family where both parents work to earn an income. The objectives of this study were to explore young fathers’ objective experiences of fatherhood in dual earner families from Johannesburg metropolitan. To explore how young fathers experience being a father in a dual earner family. To explore how young fathers experience their relationships with their partners in a dual earner family. An interpretivist and constructionist research paradigm was adopted in order to meet the aims and objectives of this study. These research paradigms were complemented by implementing a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological research design. The research methods that were employed were in line with the research paradigm, research approach and research design of the study. The participants were sampled using a non probability sampling technique such as purposive sampling and snowball sampling. The actual sample included four fathers from dual earner families who were between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. All four participants met the following criteria: Living within the regions of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan; Formally employed full-time and received an income from salaries; Each of the participants was living with the mother of their child or children; Their partners were also formally employed full-time and received an income from a salary; The fathers had a child or children who were younger than seven years old. Data was collected from the participants using semi-structured interviews. Interview data was analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Ethics clearance was issued by the Human Research Ethics Committee (Non-Medical) at the University of the Witwatersrand. The researcher had consent from each participant. The researcher ensured honesty and trust through privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity of the participants. For fathers in dual earner families, it was found that it was easier to fulfill provider role expectations. This was because in this instance fathers had financial assistance from their partner’s income. This in turn made it easier for fathers to meet provider role expectations in their families. It was also found that there was an increase in father involvement in childcare and housework. It was also found that the increased contributions to childcare and housework were not equal to mother’s contributions in these areas. In regard to the finding that for father’s in dual earner families it was easier for them to fulfill provider role expectations it is contended that if a father is less preoccupied with meeting the provider role expectations of fatherhood, then he is more likely to explore other ways of relating to his children and family such as increased father involvement in childcare and housework. It is also contended that in this instance their partners became assistants to fathers reaching the hegemonic masculine ideals of fatherhood, such as being a sole breadwinner. As such, fathers in this situation were complicit in reproducing hegemonic masculine ideals, by enforcing discrete forms of gendered power to create conditions around their partner’s employment which were in favour of the father’s needs. In regard to the finding that fathers increased their involvement in childcare and housework in the household, it is contended that a father’s increased involvement in housework and childcare can be attributed to endorsing egalitarian gender ideologies. It is concluded that the experience of fatherhood in a dual earner family is fluid. This means that the construction of fatherhood is in constant movement and it is always being deconstructed and reconstructed in relation to money. The emphasis on money in dual earner families is what moderates the movement of the constructions of fatherhood. In light of the conclusion of this study, it is recommended that further research into the experience of fatherhood in dual earner families, should place emphasis on studying the nature of father’s and mother’s income from employment. This may include detailing information such working hours, level of salary, type of employment, level of employment and educational attainment. It is suggested that this will provide a better context of money in dual earner families from which to understand and analyse the experience of fatherhood. It is also recommended that further research into the experience of fatherhood in dual earner families should prioritise collecting data from a sample of fathers in dual earner families from low income and high income groups. This recommended is based on this study’s conclusion that money is what moderates the experience of fatherhood in dual earner families. It can therefore be hypothesised that the experience of fatherhood in dual earner families from those income groups will be markedly different to what was found from the middle class income group in this study.Item "Strategies for negotiating absent fathers among young people in Soweto, South Africa"(2014-07-22) Mdletshe, PrudenceThe family has been seen as playing an important part in children’s lives and their development. This is because families are seen to be the primary sources of individual development and thus should be seen as the building blocks of communities. Families serve as the main source of emotional, social and material support for most individuals. Thus, stable family environments are acknowledged to provide a fertile environment for children’s wellbeing and for them to grow up to be healthy responsible adults. Most South African children are raised by a single mother or by their maternal grandparents. Research conducted shows that South African Families face many challenges, and these challenges could be the source for high rates of absent fathers. Poverty has been identified to be one of the challenges that affect families in South Africa. Some researchers argue that poverty and inequality continue to undermine the family as an institution by reducing its effectiveness in realizing the roles of its members in society. Therefore poverty puts a burden on families and specifically on the main providers or ‘breadwinners’. Poverty in South Africa is mainly caused by lack of income, which is due to the high unemployment rates with little initiatives to reduce unemployment rates. The research was conducted qualitatively and specifically used narrative inquiry as a method of gathering data. In-depth, one-on-one narrative interviews were conducted in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the consequences of having an absent father and the strategies that young women adopted in order to deal with the consequences. Eight interviews with females aged from 18 – 21 years were conducted in Soweto. The findings reveal that the participants adopted both negative and positive coping strategies. Positive coping strategies include, creative writing, keeping a diary, maintaining a positive attitude, living a different life and speaking to others. Negative coping strategies included withdrawing from others, denial of a need of a father, self-blame, silence and defensive humor. More research is needed on how young people with absent fathers cope, paying into consideration issues of personality, culture and socialization.Item Performing manhood and fatherhood : A case study of men/fathers as symbolic mediums(2008-10-20T12:07:54Z) Sigamoney, Veronica LaviniaThe aim of this research is to consider family as a kin network of exchange and to show that manhood and fatherhood is a cultural value transacted within this network. It attempts to also show that such value is variably negotiated as identity is performed in relation to ideological constructs of space. To do this, the physical and ideological space to which kin belong is explored as a cultural borderland, suggesting that men/fathers are able to exceed bounded constructs of identity while also being subject to them. In particular, I try to illuminate some of the dynamics that impact on men’s/fathers’ negotiation of discursive codes of intra-cultural sameness and difference to be valued not only as men/fathers, but as good at being men/fathers. Within this context, some of the symbols of identity that enable a man/father to be good at being a man/father are considered. The ethnography highlights the ways in which men/fathers are able to access and mediate symbolic resources, showing how these processes impact on their positioning on a continuum of self and worth. In this regard, performances of providing in relation to performances of the social and genetic imbrications of kinship constitute a key focus.