Biologists and evolutionary psychologists have frequently proposed that the male strategy to get as much of one's genetic material into next the generation as possible has centred on men maximising their number of mates and minimizing their parental investment in their young. In relation to this strategy, proposed female strategies have often centred on women securing mates that will provide them with resources to raise their young. Traditional gender roles have often complied to this view of parenting in which mothers are primarily in charge of bringing up their children ("barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen") while fathers are responsible for providing an income for their family. Gender roles, however, are constantly in flux and fathers' involvement in the parenting of their children is on the rise.
The following BBC documentary introduces some interesting research on the biological reactions fathers have to being a parent and the unique qualities that fathers bring to parenting. Some of these findings include:
These findings have interesting implications on how fatherhood is constructed and in understanding the important roles that fathers may play in their children's development (especially their early development).
The following BBC documentary introduces some interesting research on the biological reactions fathers have to being a parent and the unique qualities that fathers bring to parenting. Some of these findings include:
- A foetus responds more to its father's voice than its mother's voice
- While their partners are pregnant fathers may experience dramatic hormonal changes that may bring on symptoms similar to morning sickness
- Directly after the birth of their child fathers' testosterone levels may drop to the lowest they will ever be (other than before puberty)
- Paternal involvement may particularly boost children's language development
- The children of single fathers having been found to be more independent than the children of single mothers
- The early involvement of fathers may be related to children having more self-confidence and higher academic achievement as well as a decreased probability of participating in delinquent behaviour
- The different disciplinary style of fathers may be of great significance in parenting adolescents
- Absent fathers may be linked to girls physically maturing faster, having earlier an sexual début and being at an increased risk for teenage pregnancy
- Girls' experiences of their fathers may significantly impact of their choice of intimate partners
These findings have interesting implications on how fatherhood is constructed and in understanding the important roles that fathers may play in their children's development (especially their early development).
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