ABSTRACT
The roles of fathers and husbands in families have come to the forefront as important issues. The increased focus on men is apparent in legislation aimed at deadbeat dads, social movements such as the Million Man March and Promise Keepers, in the development of advocacy groups, and in think-tanks. Contemporary research on men in family relationships has very mixed results. Some studies show small effects of fathers on child development and in preventing antisocial behavior. Others find no effects. Still other research indicates the primary importance of men in families is in their role as provider. Some suggest husbands and fathers do their most vital work following the transition to parenthood, whereas others indicate it is when offspring reach adolescence. This volume brings together scholars from a range of disciplines (including anthropology, clinical and developmental psychology, demography, history, and sociology) to try to define men's past and current family roles, as well as estimate what the future portends for fathers and husbands. Specifically, their remarks focus on two questions: What roles do men play in families? And, how involved are men in families, and what difference does this involvement make?
