Should Researchers Conceptualize Differently the Dimensions of Parenting for Fathers and Mothers?

By J. Fagan, Randal D. Day, M. Lamb, Natasha J. Cabrera. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 2014

264 citations recorded by the source corpus.

This article asks whether researchers should seek separate conceptualizations of fathers' and mothers' parenting behaviors. We posit that there is not sufficient evidence to conclude that the constructs of fathering and mothering are unique. Our argument is based on 3 sets of findings. First, there have been a number of studies showing that fathering and mothering constructs are the same. Second, there is evidence that fathers' parenting behaviors affect children's outcomes in ways that are similar to the effects of mothers' parenting behaviors. Third, fathers and mothers are becoming more similar in terms of their roles, the types of behaviors with which they engage children, and the amount of time they spend with children.

Subfields: Demography, Gender Studies, Sociology and Political Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/8e7c6ea99df9e3ffb617453374ff449b26582d40

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Demography

1. S. Schoppe-Sullivan
2. J. Fagan
3. Natasha J. Cabrera

In Gender Studies

1. S. Schoppe-Sullivan
2. Natasha J. Cabrera
3. J. Fagan

In Sociology and Political Science

1. S. Schoppe-Sullivan
2. J. Fagan
3. Natasha J. Cabrera
4. R. Barr

Citations in the corpus

• Fathers Are Parents, Too! Widening the Lens on Parenting for Children's Development (2018, background): “research on parenting is puzzling (6).”
• The Evolution of Fathering Research in the 21st Century: Persistent Challenges, New Directions (2020, background): “Moreover, the notion that fathering and mothering are unique constructs is not substantiated (Fagan et al., 2014).”