The elements of changed fatherhood in everyday life of fathers in Croatia

Ovaj diplomski rad za svoj cilj ima prepoznati elemente promijenjenog očinstva kroz razgovor o svakodnevici s očevima na roditeljskom dopustu. Kvalitativnom metodom polustrukturiranog intervjua obuhvaćena su iskustva šest muškaraca te su prepoznati elementi koji dijele promijenjeni očevi. Promijenjeno očinstvo smatra se očinstvom koji njeguje aktivan i potpun angažman očeva, podrazumijeva karakteristike novog očinstva, ravnopravnog roditeljskog partnerstva i androginog očinstva. Promijenjeno očinstvo, uz navedene elemente u ovom istraživanju, uključuje i dodatnu karakteristiku trenutnog napuštanja posla i preuzimanja brige za dijete. Preko svakodnevice i stavova o temama veznih uz odgoj uočeni su elementi koji se suprostavljaju uvriježenim, tradicionalnim karakteristikama muškaraca. Rezultati pokazuju da se intervjuirani očevi nalaze u međuprostoru između tradicionalizma i promijenjenog očinstva. Uočava se proces promjene k promijenjenom očinstvu, ali određeni elementi ne omogućavaju smještanje očeva u čisti tip promijenjenog očinstva. Briga za djetetov fizički i psihički razvoj, uključenost u odluke i odgoj djece te ravnopravni roditeljski odnosi pokazuju da se ovi očevi nalaze u procesu promjene. Nemogućnost potpune tranzicije u promijenjeno očinstvo posljedica je stavova o rodnim ulogama. Naime, istraživani očevi naglašavaju ekspresivnost majke te je smatraju prirodnom i instiktivnom, a svoju očinsku ulogu percipiraju kroz intezivniji fizički angažman oko djeteta, poput igre i bavljenja fizičkih aktivnosti na otvorenom.This diploma thesis is based on the recognition of elements of changed fatherhood through interview with fathers on parental leave about their everyday life. For this goal to be achieved, the experiences of six fathers have been encompassed using the semi-structured interview as qualitative research method. Consequently, some elements common to all fathers have been recognized. The notion of changed fatherhood is considered to be the one that includes active and complete involvement of fathers in family daily life, as well as some new fatherhood characteristics such as equal parent partnership and androgynous fatherhood. Moreover, along with the previously mentioned characteristics, changed fatherhood includes another additional attribute of taking parental leave from work in order to take care of their children. Furthermore, certain elements which are in contrast with the traditional and ingrained characteristics of male parents have been noted through the interview about attitudes concerned with upbringing and daily life. Namely, the results show that the fathers who have been interviewed are somewhere in the interspace between traditional beliefs and changed fatherhood. However, the process of shift towards changed fatherhood can be observed, but certain elements still do not allow typifying those fathers into pure changed fatherhood category. Taking care of child’s physical and psychological development, involvement in the decision making process about child upbringing, as well as equal parental partnership indicate that these fathers are in the process of transformation. Nevertheless, the impossibility of complete transition into changed fatherhood is the consequence of attitudes towards gender roles. Namely, the interviewed fathers emphasize the expressiveness of mothers and consider women’s role as a mother to be natural and instinctive, while they perceive their parental role through more physical engagement, such as playing with children or engaging in physical activities and sports outside the house