Good Father Research Articles

How Did Telecommuting Fathers Navigate Work and Family Responsibilities During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

The global outbreak of COVID-19 abruptly upended work and family life. Yet, little is known about how fathers combined paid and unpaid labor during this unprecedented historical period. Drawing on 35 semi-structured interviews with fathers who primarily telecommuted from home, I identify four strategies fathers used to combine paid and domestic labor: interim primary caregiving, egalitarian tag-teaming, transitional tag-teaming, and hands-on traditional fathering. Findings suggest that these work-family strategies primarily depended on wives’ physical presence in the home. The fathers who described doing the most domestic labor said their wives worked outside of the home. When wives were physically present in the home, fathers’ domestic behavior varied by the extent to which they endorsed the new fatherhood ideal—defining good fathering as involvement in both paid and domestic labor. Yet, change in fathers’ domestic behavior was limited. None of the fathers I interviewed described doing most of the domestic labor when their wives were physically present at home. Taken together, fathers’ domestic behavior depends on wives’ physical presence in the home and their normative perception of men’s responsibility to the family, suggesting that fathers do not perceive domestic time availability simply by differences in the couple’s paid work hours.

The Defective Image of Man in Modern Drama: A Critical Study of August Strindberg's The Father

As a matter of fact, the "defective male" is a new form of masculinity that appeared in late 19th-century modern drama, while traditional ideals portrayed strong, heroic men driven by reason and duty. Strindberg's The Father introduced complex male characters who faced inner conflicts and social pressures. Captain Adolph struggles hard to establish a male-identity not only as a good father but also as a loyal, sincere husband, hard-working researcher and scholar and eventually a man with strong morality and convictions. His tragic victimization by his extremely dominant wife, Laura, the monstrous mother, and how her domination leads to the madness of the father. Strindberg challenges traditional notions of paternal authority, exposing the helplessness that lies beneath the surface of apparent strength. The purpose of this study is to highlight the negative effect of a mother's dominance over her children and others. It critically examines the portrayal of man and the father figure in The Father by August Strindberg, focusing on the portrayal of defective masculinity and the challenges to traditional gender roles. The play digs deeply into the complexities of human relationships, particularly the breakdown of the paternal figure and the psychological turmoil. The narrative reveals Captain Adolph, a once authoritative and confident father, conflicts with the loss of his identity and the destruction of his reality. It is nothing compared to a father's tormented suffering.

"Good fathers": Community perceptions of idealized fatherhood and reported fathering behaviors in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Globally, perceptions of idealized fatherhood have been expanding beyond men's breadwinning roles to also value men's engagement in nurturing care. While fathers' caregiving behaviors are increasing, most childcare activities are still largely performed by mothers. In this study, we unpacked community members' beliefs about the meaning of "good fathers" and explored the degree to which these values aligned with the main caregiving behaviors reported about fathers with young children under age 2 years in Mwanza, Tanzania. Qualitative data were collected as part of a broader formative research study for which we conducted in-depth interviews with 29 fathers, 23 mothers, 4 village leaders and 4 community health workers as well as 3 focus group discussions with fathers, 2 with mothers, and 6 with both fathers and mothers combined. For this secondary data analysis, we used a grounded theory approach combined with thematic content analysis to investigate the nature of fatherhood. We discovered four key ideals associated with "good fathers": fathers as providers, nurturers, supportive partners, and authoritarians. The primary ideal of fathers as breadwinners was strongly aligned with the main reported practice of fathers trying hard to financially providing for their families. However, paternal behaviors reflecting ideals of fathers as nurturers and supportive partners were less practiced. Although ideals towards good fathers as authoritarian were least explicitly valued, many fathers were reported as engaging in controlling behaviors and using violence. The links between fatherhood ideals and behaviors was influenced by various factors, including poverty, men's limited time availability at home, and restrictive gender norms. Overall, our results reveal some alignment but also inconsistencies between the ideal version of fatherhood and commonly reported paternal practices. These discrepancies highlight the need for further investigation into the underlying factors that both enable and constrain the links between fatherhood ideals and behaviors. Our study results have important implications for the design of interventions that seek to enhance fatherhood to improve the development and wellbeing of children and families.

CHARACTERIZATION OF BRYAN MILLS IN TAKEN 1 FILM

This research focuses on the characterization of Bryan Mills in Taken 1 Film directed by Pierre Morel. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive method to examine and describe the data. The objectives of the study are to analyze the characterization based on Joseph and Dennis' theory (2002). As the result, 1) Characterization through appearance: Bryan Mills is loving her daughter and he protect the women. 2) Characterization Through Dialogue: Bryan Mills is Friendly Man and a good Father. 3) Characterization through Action: Bryan Mills save a singer and rescue the woman.

HUBUNGAN DUKUNGAN AYAH ASI TERHADAP PEMBERIAN ASI EKSKLUSIF

Father's support for breastfeeding is one of the factors that influence a mother to breastfeed exclusively. This study aims to find out the relationship between father's support and exclusive breastfeeding. This type of research is quantitative using a descriptive correlational design and a cross-sectional approach. The sample for this study consists of 50 respondents who are mothers with babies aged 0-6 months who are registered at the Langsat Health Center. Sampling uses random sampling techniques. Data collection using questionnaires. Analysis in this study uses bivariate with the Chi-Square test. The result of the study on the characteristics of respondents aged 26-35 years is a total of 29 respondents (58%), the average number of respondents who are multiparous is 33 respondents (66%), the average ethnicity of the mother is Malay is 26 people. respondents (52%), the average mother's education, i.e. secondary education, was obtained by 34 respondents (68%), the average mother's occupation, i.e. not working, was obtained by 35 respondents (70%), while the father's education, i.e. secondary education, was obtained by 35 respondents (70%) and the average occupation of the father is self-employment. There are 21 respondents (42%). The results of the study showed that exclusive breastfeeding was obtained by 37 respondents (74%), and good breastfeeding father support was obtained by 25 respondents (50%). Bivariate analysis using the Chi-Square test showed a P value of 0.107 (P>0.05), meaning that there is no relationship between breastfeeding father support and exclusive breastfeeding. The community health center is expected to educate the community about the importance of the family's role in the influence of exclusive breastfeeding. Keyword : Exclusive Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Father

Jacob, Peace and Blessings be Upon Him, An Example of a Good Father from a Quranic Perspective, An Objective Study

This research handles the father, who is an an excellent example for his children through the story of Jacob, peace and blessings be upon him. His stances with his children in the Qur’an are under the title “Jacob, peace and blessings be upon him, an Example of a Good Father from a Quranic Perspective, an Objective Study.” The aim of this research is to identify the most prominent characteristics of Jacob, peace be upon him. It also identified the most important means of communication that Jacob, peace be upon him, used to communicate with his children to raise them well. The researcher followed the inductive-deductive approach in tracing the life of Jacob, peace be upon him, as well as his characteristics and methods of dealing with his children in the light of the Holy Quran. It also drew several educational lessons learned from Jacob's dealings with his children in the Holy Qur'an. At the conclusion of his research, he concluded that good fatherhood is an earned matter based on the availability of several qualities in the young man that qualify him to be a father to follow. There are also some innate factors that help in shaping the character of a role model father, such as generosity of character and honor of lineage, which were present in the character of Jacob. Peace be upon him, and the characteristics of a role model father for generations after him. The research recommended those working in scientific research in the field of education and guidance to intensify research and studies related to family reform in the life of the prophets, peace be upon them, by tracing their biographies and their news from the angle of the Noble Qur’an and the honorable Sunnah of the Prophet.

Peran Ayah dalam Pembentukan Karakter Anak: Telaah Surah Luqman Ayat 12-14

Abstrak 
 Fathers have a characteristic role in the family, namely the breadwinner, in this case the father is responsible for all family needs. One of the roles of fathers in educating children is modeling to children in terms of wisdom and being responsible for planning and decision making in a matter. This study aims to understand the figure of the father's role in teaching character education to children in Surah Luqman verses 12-14. This exploration uses a literature study research method with a descriptive-analytical approach. The results of this study indicate that in Surah Luqman verses 12-14 show that Luqman advised his son with advice that was not patronizing and there were also no accusations, because parents only want children to be good and only parents are their children's advisors. The character of a good father in Islam is depicted in Luqman, who always takes care of the child with love, advises the child with gentle words, and instills religious character education to the child.

Different logics of pain: the gendered dimension of chronic pain in a relational setting

This study aims to increase our understanding of the gendered dimension of living with chronic pain within a relational context. The empirical setting for this study is Sweden, a country widely recognised for its long history of gender equality. Interview responses from 21 women and 12 men were analysed using the feminist notion of the marriage contract, outlining the terms for women and men living together in a relationship. The result shows how living with chronic pain leads to processes of grief and altered priorities. Respondents emphasize the importance of equality. However, men and women apply different logics when deciding which tasks to prioritise. Although there is no distinct pattern regarding whether or not couples share housework equally, the allocation of responsibilities appears to follow a particular pattern: men tend to prioritise their rehabilitation to become good fathers, women are grateful and prioritise the family before her own well-being. The study indicates that while attitudes and the allocation of household chores may have changed in the past few decades, the marriage contract still restricts women from employment and rehabilitation.

Symptoms of depression and internalizing problems in early adulthood – associated factors from birth to adolescence

Purpose Even though the mechanisms behind the development of depression and internalizing problems remains unknown, many different factors have been shown to increase the risk. Longitudinal studies enable the investigation of exposure during different developmental periods during childhood. This study aims to examine factors associated with depressive and internalizing problems at age 20 in terms of sociodemographic factors, previous mental health problems and stressful life events during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Methods A birth cohort of 1723 children were followed to age 20. At the 20-year follow-up, n = 731 (44%) participated. Standardized instruments were filled out at baseline and the 3-,12- and 20-year follow-ups. Results Depressive problems at age 20 were associated with female gender, experience of interpersonal life events reported at age 20, bullying victimization and reports on paternal mental health problems. Participants with depressive problems were also less likely to have experienced adolescence as happy and to report that their father had been a good father. Internalizing problems at age 20 were, in addition, associated with internalizing problems at age 12 and reports on maternal mental health problems. Internalizing problems were associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing adolescence as happy in the final model. Conclusion Recent events (i.e. interpersonal life events and bullying) seemed to be the most influential factors on the development of internalizing and depressive problems. Internalizing problems during childhood increased the risk for internalizing problems in early adulthood, emphasizing the importance of early intervention. Fewer factors were found to increase the risk for depressive problems compared to internalizing problems.

How to be a good partner and father? The role of adult males in pair bond maintenance and parental care in Javan gibbons

In pair-living species, female and male pairs may maintain stable social bonds by adjusting spatial and social associations. Nevertheless, each sex invests differently to maintain the pair bond, and the investment can depend on the presence of paternal care or ‘male services.’ While most species live in pairs, the sex responsible for pair bond maintenance in gibbons is still controversial. We investigated pair bond maintenance and parental care in three pairs of wild Javan gibbons in Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park, Indonesia, for over 21 months. We found that Javan gibbon fathers groomed their offspring more than adult females, especially as offspring got older. While both parents increased playing time with offspring when offspring became older and more independent, fathers played with offspring 20 times more than mothers on average. Grooming within Javan gibbon pairs was male-biased, suggesting that pair bond maintenance was heavily the job of males. However, offspring age as a proxy for paternal care did not affect the pair bond maintenance. Our study highlights that adult male Javan gibbons may have an important role in pair bond maintenance and the care of juveniles.

The 2 a.m. Moment and the Art of Our Science.

The 2 a.m. Moment and the Art of Our Science Palliative nurses around the world have been emerging as health system leaders and advancing their scopes of practice for the past several decades—all while serving as key members of interdisciplinary clinical teams and in academic settings. The COVID pandemic has crystallized the power and privilege, as well as the predicaments, of palliative nursing. Serious illness care and health systems globally are forever changed since the 2020 onset of the pandemic. Yet, nurses have risen to the call to fulfill their professional obligations with a fierce commitment to quality care, safe practice, and confronting ethical dilemmas in daily practice. As the world confronts myriad humanitarian emergencies, such as the injustices resultant of the climate crisis and ongoing social inequities, nurses’ capacity as psychosocial and spiritual caregivers, pain and symptom management experts, conduits for empathic communication, and procurers of cultural safety are being increasingly recognized. As the palliative nursing field grows, it becomes increasingly important to maintain consistent connection with our reason for being of service: promoting, preserving, and protecting the integrity of the relationships we have with people suffering from life-limiting illness and injury, their families and loved ones, and their broader communities of support. And for many we serve, that care will also include presence at the sacred time when life ends. So much of the sacred work of nursing can be found within the art that underlies our science: how we engage the human-to-human moments between nurse and patient, and their families. The ways that we understand and use these moments offer us endless lessons to drive our personal and professional growth, clinical practice, core values behind our teaching and education, and our research questions.1 These moments are epitomized in the 2 a.m. moment, when the bustle of the hospital or the home has settled, and it is just nurse and patient in solidarity. And there we are: human-to-human amid both suffering and hope with the full range of emotions possible. It is these moments when the patient might ask, “Am I dying?” Or there may be deep feelings shared: “I am so afraid—so very, very afraid.” “I’ve lived a good life. How blessed! I am ready to move on.” “I have not been a good father. I am so sorry.” “Why me? Why now? I have so much left to do.” In her six-year study on the nurse and the dying patient, Jeanne Quint wrote that, “Sharing such a moment can be a poignant experience for both the patient and the [nurse]… When the [nurse] participates in this kind of communion with the dying patient, [they] make a significant human contribution… Some dying patients feel abandoned by everyone unless someone provides them with human contact” (Quint, 1967, p. 220). It has been over 50 years since Jeanne Quint wrote those words yet the issues of abandonment, and the ability of nurses to offer comfort remains. How the nurse remains present, listens, internalizes, responds, uses the silences, and continues to bear witness can profoundly shape the next moments of living and dying. There is endless possibility and opportunity for nurses to be of value and to practice fully within the art and in their science. This 2 a.m. moment is the premise of palliative nursing—that there are always openings for healing, connection, and service. The 2 a.m. moment provides the time during darkness when all the chaos of the day is gone and what remains is the silence. It is within that silence that the nurse remembers what it means to be fully present. In recognizing the profound experience of the patient facing death, the nurse also holds up a mirror of reflection. What does it mean to be a nurse? What do I bring to this moment which is unique from my colleagues? Why do I do the work of palliative care? What am I learning in this moment, from this patient? William RosaJHPN Editorial Board MemberBetty FerrellJHPN Editor in Chief

Kratos’ Fathering in God of War (2018)

God of War (2018) tells the story of Kratos’ struggle to raise his son, Atreus, by himself because of his wife's passing. Using the Good Fathering theory by Morman & Floyd, Kratos fathering will be compared to the theory to determine whether he is a bad father or a good father. The top four characteristics to determine his fathering are love, role model, availability, and involvement. The study was done using a descriptive qualitative approach. The data analysis revealed that Kratos was a bad father in the early part of the game, but later he shows changes in four characteristics of good fathering through his actions in the middle of the story.

The Distribution of Unpaid Domestic Work in Hungarian Stay-at-Home Father—Working-Mother Families

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Hungarian stay-at-home father—working-mother families from a point of view of how the distribution of unpaid domestic work develops during the period when the father stays at home with his child(ren). It answers the question of what principles and implemented practices govern the division of household labour in these families. According to the perception of the traditional parental role, unpaid domestic work, such as family duties, routine housework, and care work are the responsibility of mothers, while fathers are responsible for the financial stability of the family. In addition to the once prevailing breadwinner father role, nowadays the egalitarian model is becoming increasingly prominent. In parallel, a new father type appears according to which a good father wants to be more involved in the everyday life of the child. An extreme case of this type of involvement is when the father stays at home with his child(ren) and becomes the primary caregiver, and the mother assumes the role of breadwinner. The ratio of such families is growing around the world, but we still know relatively little about them. Our gap-filling, qualitative research is based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 31 Hungarian stay-at-home fathers supplemented by a short questionnaire with their partners. The data were analyzed by thematic analysis method. As a main conclusion we could identify two clearly distinguishable groups among the examined couples: families with a rather traditional approach, and families having more egalitarian values concerning gender roles. However, the findings suggest that all of these families can be characterised by egalitarian sharing practices of duties, and at the same time by undoing gender. The distribution of routine housework and care work is based on a time availability perspective, which does not specify any masculine or feminine family duty or work.

Effectiveness of an integrated multilevel early child development intervention on caregiver knowledge and behavior: a quasi-experimental evaluation of the Malezi program in Tanzania

BackgroundThe quality of caregiving and the parent-child relationship is critical for early child development (ECD) and has been shown to be modifiable. This study evaluated an ECD project in Tanzania, assessing the effectiveness of radio messaging (RM) alone and a combined radio messaging/video job aids/ECD (RMV-ECD) intervention.MethodsThis two-arm pre-post evaluation study enrolled a cohort of caregivers of children 0–24 months in four districts of Tabora region, following them for 9 months. ECD radio messages were broadcast on popular stations at least 10 times/day reaching all study districts. In two districts, community health workers (CHW), trained in UNICEF’s Care for Child Development package, used ECD videos in home- and facility-based sessions with caregivers. We used McNemar’s testing (pre-post pairs) within intervention group to describe how the intervention was associated with change in five outcomes: ECD knowledge, early stimulation, father engagement, responsive care, and environment safety. Logistic regression was used to describe the relative benefits of the combined intervention package (RMV-ECD) compared to radio messaging (RM).ResultsIn the RMV-ECD arm, all outcomes at endline except environment safety significantly improved after the intervention with the largest change seen in ECD knowledge (35.8% increase, p < .0001) and the smallest in father engagement (6.7%, p = .015). In the RM arm, ECD knowledge (5.7%, p = .031) and environment safety (18.1%, p = <.0001) improved. High measures of parenting stress were associated with lower likelihood of having good ECD knowledge (AOR 0.50, 95%CI: 0.35, 0.71), father engagement (AOR 0.72, 95%CI: 0.52, 0.99) and responsive care (AOR 0.31, 95%CI: 0.18, 0.54).ConclusionsAn intervention that includes mass media, educational video content and CHWs who counsel caregivers in their homes and health facilities was associated with significant improvements in ECD parenting knowledge and behaviors but a relationship with responsive care could not be established. The less costly mass media-only intervention was associated with improved parenting knowledge and household environment safety. Parenting interventions targeting young children could be improved by incorporating more messaging and caregiver coaching in managing parental stress.Trial registrationNCT05244161 (17/02/2022); retrospectively registered with the US National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov.

Sienna’s Monster

How is a child, growing up, effected by being part of a cycle of abuse? How do you end the cycle? How do you explain to your abuser the effect their words have on you, when they believe their actions are better than their father before them? In this work of philosophical short story fiction, Sienna is living with a “Monster,” in this case, her father. He does not hit her, but he does yell, and rant, and breaks things. Sienna grows up always on edge that the “monster” will lash out at her. Over time, she builds up equally toxic defense mechanisms. She learns to yell back and to be as hate-filled as her father. This all changes when she goes to college and meets her roommate Clara. Clara does not lash out. She does not accuse. She does not go into conversations prepared for battle. She listens, she is empathetic. She does not “keep score” in their friendship. Sienna assumes Clara has an alternative motive, and continues to be skeptical. Eventually, Sienna comes to see Clara for what she is, a decent human being. Armed with her new knowledge, Sienna heads home for Thanksgiving and confronts her father. Her father credits himself with “breaking the cycle” and being a good father by not physically abusing Sierra that way his father was to him. Sienna is frustrated, and resolves to never speak to him again. Over the Christmas holiday, Sienna decides to visit Clara’s family. Sienna’s mother asks if she, and only she, can come visit. Sienna reluctantly agrees. Her mother arrives, father in tow. The story ends with Sienna in jail, having killed her father.

АРХЕТИПЪТ БАЩА КАТО ОБРАЗ НА ДОБРОТО В ЕПОСА „КНИГАТА НА ДЕДЕ КОРКУТ”

The transmission of thought patterns and the experimentation of typical events from each society are transmitted from generation to generation, thus creating a number of common archetypes for all people. Archetypes are models by which a series of experiences and memories related to ancestors are expressed. The archetype 'father' is one of the building blocks of the family. He's a model for his child, especially his son. The father protects his children as a guardian angel. He is a first-time teacher and supporter of his child, at the same time teaching him to prosper in life and overcome difficulties. He brings his children up according to his views and norms. He teaches his child discipline, becomes strict when necessary and caring when he needs to. The father is like the Lord in our lives, he is the one who gives us life, he is our creator. For this reason, the name of the father is very important for Oguz people. In this article we will analyze the behavior and actions of good fathers and their relations with their sons in the destantes of the epic The Book of Dede Korkut, namely First Destan – “A Song for the Son of Dirke Khan, Bogach Khan" and Third Destan – "A Song for the Son of Cam Puree, Bamsy Beyrek". In these days, fathers usually expect courage from their sons. The male child means an extension of the genus and is the future father and the continued of the genus. In the destans of Dede Korcut, the main father is himself, Korkut Ata. Dede Korcut is the father of the fathers, that is, the father of all Oguz people. For this he has the right to name all proven juveniles. Since ancient times, good has been the highest moral human value. Even the name of Dede Korcut, contains in itself the positive concept of good - happiness. He has always wanted the good of the Oguz people, as a father wants the good of his child.

PERAN AYAH ASI DALAM KEBERHASILAN PEMBERIAN ASI EKSKLUSIF

Breastmilk (ASI) is the best food for babies, which contains white blood cells, protein and immune substances suitable for babies. Breast milk helps the child's optimal growth and development and protects against disease. Whereas in Banten Province in 2018, the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding was 62.79% (Riskesdas, 2018). Several factors can influence mothers to exclusive breastfeeding their babies. One of them is the support from the husband, who plays a role in the success of breastfeeding mothers. Husbands can be the key to success in exclusive breastfeeding for their children if the husbands carry out their roles properly. The research objective is to determine the relationship between the father's role in breastfeeding and the success of exclusive breastfeeding in the working area of the Ciomas Public Health Center in 2020.&#x0D; Methods: The type of research used is quantitative with a descriptive-analytic design through a cross-sectional approach. The research was carried out in the Working Area of the Ciomas Health Center in September - October 2020. The sample in the study was 30 respondents who had babies over 6-24 months with a consecutive sampling technique. Retrieval of data using questionnaires online. The analysis used was the Spearman rank (rho) correlation test method. The results of the study showed that out of 10 people who had a good father role, nine people (90%) succeeded in exclusive breastfeeding with good knowledge, three people (75%) and 20 people were included in the category of poor father role, 18 people did not succeed in breastfeeding. Exclusive (90%) with a p-value &lt;0.05 indicates a significant relationship between the role of fathers and the success of exclusive breastfeeding. With the criteria of a strong relationship of 0.783, it is included in the very strong category (0.76 - 0.99)

Good and Shadow Father: A CDA of Malaysian Newspaper’s Reception of PM Muhyiddin’s Abah Archetype

ABSTRACT The public persona of the 8th PM of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, was derived from the metaphorical framing of the Good Father archetype. Archetypes do not always lead to logical conclusions because issues are framed by focusing on specific aspects while avoiding those that are inconsistent with the metaphor. Metaphorical structures influence the way we perceive, think or act. Muhyiddin’s abah persona can be described as monolithic. It normalizes the conservative Malay value that upholds the patriarchal role while marginalizing other ethnic or religious representations and their cultural and parenting practices. Muhyiddin had exploited this privileged position so as to further the asymmetrical power relation. The Malaysian collective fantasy of a Good Father is not uniform and Muhyiddin’s abah was challenged by a Shadow Father counternarrative. This exploratory study is limited in achieving depth of understanding of gender roles representation but explores instead the strategic actors, namely Muhyiddin and his supporters, how they tried to build the image of a Good Abah, and how the narrative was negotiated and contested, as well as the ideologies that were promoted or reinforced by the father archetype. Findings include readers’ polarized views of good father, low-key misogyny, the traditional and stereotyped expectation of men.

Becoming a Good Chinese Father – Reality TV in China and its Reception

In 2013, Hunan Television, one of China’s most successful provincial satellite television stations, debuted a reality TV series featuring celebrity fathers and their children. A localized version of a Korean-developed format, Where Are We Going, Dad ( baba quna’er) brought dads and kids together to different locations in the countryside, usually very remote and exotic, to complete certain assignments. This inquiry takes Where Are We Going, Dad as its focus; it seeks to understand how and how far notions of fatherhood are being constructed and circulated in contemporary China. It does so by way of audiences. While the show was evidently configuring and promoting their versions of fatherhood, we wanted to find out what viewers thought of the show, and of fatherhood. Located in the juncture of fatherhood and reality show studies, this exploratory inquiry identifies three themes from the conversations of four families in urban China. First, they articulate the difficulty of being a good father in a rapidly changing China and the concomitant longing to a return of traditional Chinese fatherhood. A second recurring theme concerns the ways in which they accept this tension between tradition and modernity. Finally, they demonstrate savviness in their viewing of the show. We build on the three themes to argue that such reality shows do impact on Chinese families’ understanding of fatherhood, but their savvy viewership points to the limit of such media impact.

66.4 Powerful Conversations Between a Father and a Religious Scholar: Lessons From Islamic Teaching

The role of a Muslim father goes beyond the provision of educational and financial needs to ensuring a loving and peaceful family atmosphere that is conducive to children’s ethical, moral, and spiritual development. A good father is exhorted to guide his children to a joyous, fulfilling, and righteous life path by acting as a role model for love, compassion, empathy, nonjudgment, and forgiveness. The objectives of this presentation are to: 1) develop an understanding of gender uniqueness in Islam and the significance of fatherhood; and 2) utilize practical strategies for fathers to connect with their children by following Islamic teaching.