"Real Heroes Care": How Dad Bloggers Are Reconstructing Fatherhood and Masculinities. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scheibling, Casey
• Is Part Of: Men and masculinities. Volume 23:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: fatherhood -- masculinities -- caring masculinities -- men's movements -- redoing gender -- blogging -- social media; Men's studies -- Periodicals; Étude de genre; Étude sur les hommes; Homme; Identité masculine; Masculinité; Perception sociale; Recherche; Rôle selon le sexe; Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); 305.3105
• DOI: 10.1177/1097184X18816506
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1097-184X

Abstract

"Dad bloggers" are an emerging community of fathers in North America. These men use social media to document and discuss their experiences as parents and gather annually at the Dad 2.0 Summit. A central topic of discussion both online and offline is how involved fathers negotiate and rework gender roles and expectations. This study examines how dad bloggers create and engage with discourse about masculinities. Using blog posts, fieldwork observations, and interviews as data, I present qualitative findings illustrating the ways in which dad bloggers challenge traditional notions of masculinity, construct "caring masculinities, " and adopt a pro-feminist perspective. Despite certain tensions and contradictions within the community, I argue that dad bloggers are reconstructing fatherhood and masculinities in ways that promote care and equality overall.