Fathers as sexuality educators: Aspirations and realities. An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Bennett, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5144-3894, Harden, Jane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8158-6450 and Anstey, Sally ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2295-3761 2018. Fathers as sexuality educators: Aspirations and realities. An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Sex Education 18 (1) , pp. 74-89. 10.1080/14681811.2017.1390449

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Abstract

Men can play a significant role in teaching their children about sexuality but fathers’ practices and perceptions in this domain remain under explored. This study presents an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of eight fathers’ perceptions and practices in educating their ten-year-old children about physical maturation, reproduction and relationships. A Foucauldian analysis with a focus on governmentality and biopower revealed tensions and contradictions between the fathers’ aspirations and their realities which appeared to be underpinned by the dynamic, contradictory, shifting, plural nature of fatherhood identities. Whilst fathers wished to adhere to the cultural imperative for father-child emotional closeness, a disparity between their ambitions and their conduct emerged. Care appeared to be a deeply gendered concept for the fathers and despite their aspirations for an intimate relationship with their children, gendered norms for motherhood and fatherhood prevailed resulting in a passivity in their role as sexuality educators. The study concludes by arguing that since a lack of knowledge can potentially render children and young people sexually more vulnerable, these findings are of concern. Challenges to structures and subcultural contexts which may deter fathers from fully engaging with their sons and daughters in this aspect of communication are, therefore, required.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Additional Information:	This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis (Routledge): SSH Titles
ISSN:	1468-1811
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	24 October 2017
Date of Acceptance:	6 October 2017
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 01:43
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/105851

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