On (emotionally) involved fathers and family breadwinners. Being a dad and fatherhood in transition

Historical, social and societal changes have altered the conditions under which parents, fathers and mothers live family lives today. Like the realities of parents’ and families’ lives, the images of parenthood, fatherhood and motherhood have changed. In recent years, so-called ‘new’ fathers have become the center of attention. However, a focus solely on fathers and fatherhood often means that the interdependencies of parenthood, motherhood and fatherhood slip from view. Against this backdrop, the article asks from a praxeological perspective how parents-to-be as couples jointly bring about being a dad and fatherhood in the transition to (renewed) parenthood. It combines theoretical considerations on contemporary parenthood, fatherhood and motherhood with empirical analyses, while drawing on data from a project on the transition to (renewed) parenthood conducted in Germany. Different aspects are crucial for the opportunities of fathers to participate in family life, family work, care and the education of their children. As will be shown, everyday theoretical assumptions about and images of father- and motherhood, structural and organizational conditions, the couple concept and the individual situation of families are particularly relevant.