Fathering in the 20th century

Scholars assert that both popular interest in fatherhood and the definition of fathering have changed over time. We examine these assertions by analyzing popular magazine articles published from 1900 to 1989. The results indicate that the definition of fathering has alternated over the century between two poles: fathers as providers, and fathers as nurturers. The results also show that interest in fatherhood throughout the 20th century has fluctuated rather than increased However, we provide evidence for increased interest in gender- nonspecific parenting. A comparison of the cultural definition of fathering with behavioral trends in fertility and married women's labor force participation showed that higher fertility is related to the definition of fathering as providing. In opposition to professional views of parenting roles as strictly gender segregated, popular magazines have presented fathers as both instrumental and expressive actors for at least a century.