Which Fathers Are Sensitive to Maternal Gate Closing? Exploring How Gender Role Attitudes Moderate the Link Between Fathers' Perceptions of Gate Closing and Childcare Involvement

Abstract Previous research suggests that maternal gate closing discourages fathers from taking an active role in childcare. Focusing on the father's perspective, this study contributes to the literature on father childcare involvement by demonstrating how fathers' gender role attitudes relate to their experiences of maternal gate closing. Using a sample of employed fathers of children aged 0–6 in the United States drawn from the AmeriSpeak Panel ( N = 1,421), we first examined how fathers' perceptions of maternal gate closing were related to their involvement in three childcare domains: routine care, emotional engagement, and parental responsibility. We then tested moderation models to determine which fathers, based on their gender role attitudes, experienced gate closing as a deterrent and which fathers resisted it. Results indicate that higher levels of maternal gate closing were associated with lower involvement in all three childcare domains. However, endorsement of the male breadwinning ideal significantly moderated these associations. Whereas fathers who supported this norm reported lower involvement when perceiving maternal gate closing, those who rejected it demonstrated greater resilience and reported the highest levels of childcare involvement. This study highlights the complex role of fathers' beliefs, particularly those related to their sense of manhood and self-worth, in shaping family dynamics.