The Breadwinning Father May Be Harder to Replace Than We Thought Student: Alex Duran, Professor: Bonnie Boaz Abstract The roles of fathers in modern society have changed since the 1970s. An analysis of multiple scholarly articles reveals that most research done on paternal child rearing techniques yield negative views of fathers as breadwinners only. The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss research done on paternal norms and ideologies in order to understand modern views of paternal behaviors. Research shows that paternal ideology has been shifting from the acceptance of a breadwinning model to the endorsement of an androgynous model. However, despite the call for a more androgynous father, paternal behavior has persisted around the breadwinning model. The paternal breadwinner includes a less involved father who is focused more on providing economic support for his children rather than actually spending time with them. The androgynous father is less focused on the monetary support he brings to his family and instead values the emotional support he provides for his children. Most research done on the behavioral norms of fathers uses a homemaker model of parenting to define a good parent. Using the homemaker model of parenting skews research on paternal behavior since most fathers actually follow the breadwinner model and the homemaker model is designed after the behavior of a stay at home parent. Until researchers construct a research model that considers the androgynous model as well as the breadwinning model of male parenting the measurement of good fathers will remain rooted in the homemaker model and slanted against fathers as good parents. Introduction An analysis of literature that elaborates on the topic of fatherhood reveals a trend in the reference of paternal child rearing techniques. Larossa (1988) acknowledges that fatherhood has changed dramatically over the last few decades. He dubs the traditional male economic provider as the ‘breadwinning father’ and the modern day soccer dad as the ‘androgynous father.’ There is a lot of debate as to which father is better at raising their children. Pride (2012) explains that fathers ought to value themselves as breadwinners and raise their sons to do the same in order for their sons to develop into true men. Easterbrooks & Goldberg (1984) explain that it is more important for a father to spend time with his children since children learn important skills and values from their fathers that typically aren’t instilled by mothers. Any consistencies in reference to what being a ‘good father’ entails would demonstrate a consensus of effective child rearing techniques and provide evidence of a model that can be agreed on. However, any biases would skew the research and make the model invalid, therefore another model may be needed to make a fair analysis. I hypothesize that a model that is centered between the androgynous model and the breadwinning model may be the solution. Results/Discussion The researchers that analyzed paternal child rearing techniques using the homemaker model skewed the research against the breadwinner model because the homemaker model is too closely related to the androgynous model of fathering. The consensus among scholars who did a qualitative analysis rather than using research statistics was that a model that combines the breadwinning model’s effort to provide economic support as well as the androgynous model’s effort to provide economic support would work best to center the results of the research. Conclusion As stated before, there is a need to develop a model that considers both the androgynous model along with the breadwinning model in order to center the results for what the effective methods are when it comes to paternal child rearing techniques. A model that includes the economic support of the breadwinning model along with the androgynous model’s emotional support would be the most reasonable solution. Floyd (2001) acknowledges that every family is different in terms of the roles that parents play in the lives of their children. Some fathers are emotional supporters and some are economic providers, but no one can say with absolute certainty that either fathering technique is right. Understanding that there is no defined ‘right way’ for a father to raise his kids will help people realize that it is difficult for parents to decide how to raise their children because there are too many contrasting opinions and the question is subjective in nature. Future research on this topic must take into consideration the proposed model for measuring effective paternal child rearing techniques as well as a case by case analysis of familial roles. Works Cited Easterbrooks, M., & Goldberg, W. (1984). Toddler Development in the Family: Impact of Father Involvement and Parenting Characteristics. Child Development, 55(3).; Floyd, Kory. “Human Affection Exchange: I. Reproductive Probability as a Predictor of Men’s Affection with Their Sons.” The Journal of Men’s Studies 10.1 (2001): Web.; Larossa, R. (1988). Fatherhood and Social Change. Family Relations, 37(4), ; Pride, V. (2012, May 28). 52 Things Every Father Should Teach His Son. Retrieved February 1, 2015.; Images For Soccer Dad (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015.from Images For Businessman In Meeting. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from Soccer. Retrieved Acknowledgements I would like to thank the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program for the poster outline and printing the poster. I would also like to thank Bonnie Boaz, my UNIV 200 professor, for helping me develop my research abstract.