ERIC Number: ED330945
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1991-Apr
Pages: 21
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Changing Role of the Father in the United States.
Chandras, Kan V.
Americn society is experiencing a sex-role revolution. This revolution is transforming the roles and status of men and women in American society. These changes appear to be the result of the rapid social changes sweeping the country. While men and women may be freer to follow their desires and aspirations, this revolution has also produced new problems and anxieties. Various reasons can be found for the changing roles of the father in American society. The traditional role of the man as the "good provider" is changing. The role of the father in the socialization of his children appears to be an issue of great importance and interest in our society. Some studies consider the father's role as "matricentric," in that these studies often focus on the mother's perception of the role of the father in the family, rather than focusing on the father's perception. Sociocultural changes in the United States provide explanations as to why fathers are more involved with their children. As a result of our mobile society, there is a need for the father to provide support in areas that were traditionally filled by extended family, long-standing friends, and neighbors. The changing role of the father is looked in the context of four theories: The Individual Development Theory; Cognitive Dissonance Theory; the Social Judgment Theory; and Attribution Theory. (BHK)
Descriptors: Fathers, Males, Parent Role, Role Conflict, Sex Role, Sex Stereotypes, Social Behavior, Theories
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Association for Counseling and Development (Reno, NV, April 22-24, 1991).