Caring Paternity: Convergence between Changes, Tensions and Continuities in Families.

Objective: To present the results of a research study carried out between 2021 and 2022 in Manizales, Colombia, with 19 fathers participating. The topic was family care during the pandemic. Methodology: The study adopted a social participatory approach, structured around the phases of exploration, focus, and in-depth analysis, as outlined by Galeano (2004). Results: Parental care involves changes, tensions and continuities within families. Conclusions: Progress has been made towards male inclusion in the world of caring and sharing responsibility for the upbringing and socialisation of children. This contributes to breaking down beliefs that pigeonhole men into the public sphere. The pandemic situation was not found to be a pretext for fathers to take on caregiving responsibilities, as family agreements and arrangements had already been established. However, the pandemic did serve to readjust routines, time and space, bringing families together around caregiving.