Nuove frontiere di paternità: dal legame biologico a quello sociale nelle famiglie atipiche

This paper analyses the transformation of the social representation of fathers, with particular reference to the social parenthood, which arises from the debate on the paternity crisis. The origin of paternity is traced back to the psycho-pedagogical level, by comparing biological and social paternity. This way, they establish the primary elements behind the outlining of the process of paternal identity. Discussion about the father’s role allows us to overcome the opposing masculine and feminine parenting models that sustain the concept of the “paternity crisis”, approaching a model that looks at how the subject expresses his or her parenthood within the family and sociocultural context, beyond a perspective centered on gender stereotypes.