How to dad? Italian fathers discuss fatherhood online

Introduction: This article examines how Italian fathers navigate masculinity, care, and parental wellbeing through an analysis of an online fathers' forum. Methods: The methods are qualitative: a critical discourse analysis of 180 posts and comments, that appeared on the forum between 2019 and 2025 was used to explore how participants negotiate their roles in a society that continues to privilege maternal caregiving, despite growing calls for gender equality. Results and discussion: The findings reveal a hybrid model of fatherhood that blends emotional engagement and caregiving with traditional elements of masculinity, such as protection and provision. Fathers in the forum share experiences of joy, anxiety, and loneliness, highlighting the emotional complexity of parenthood and the societal pressures shaping their identities. The forum provides a rare supportive space for men to discuss vulnerabilities and fatherhood outside the manosphere's misogynistic discourse, fostering community and emotional expression.