Constructing Work-Life Balance and Fatherhood: Men's Framing of the Meanings of <i>Both</i> Work <i>and</i> Family

Abstract

We explored 18 fathers' interviews to locate how they constructed work-family balance and their fatherhood roles within their particular life contexts. Using the constant comparative method, we found that these men framed and enlarged work-family balance as both work and life negotiations but elevated family as first by linking family to their meanings of work. To them, fatherhood meant webs of responsibilities to others and community engagements with problem solving constituting their main activity. These reconceptualizations of fatherhood and masculinities may indicate that there are ideological changes in the nature of fatherhood that have implications for understanding men's contemporary roles as well as for changing work-life policies and practices.