Men and Care: Insights from Fathers in Dual-Income Households in Cape Town, South Africa.

Over the past three decades, the role of men in the family has changed. From men gradually losing their patriarchal power while incorporating more nurturant qualities into their traditional role as breadwinners and providers to becoming what is referred to as the “new father” who is active and involved in the caretaking of children and performing domestic duties. One of the main reasons for this shift is the rise in the rate of women entering the labour market, which increased the number of dual-income families. Unlike a nuclear family with only a single income role fulfilled by one parent, usually the father, in a dual-income family, both parents work to earn an income. However, several authors have reported that fathers still shifted the main burden of care to their partners or spouses even when both are engaged in work outside their households. This research draws on the work of Shahra Razavi and Parvati Raghuram, who conceptualize domestic care as emanating from state, market, private, and community provisions referred to as the care diamond, which will be applied to the South African context. The study used a qualitative approach, such as semi-structured interviews with 10 couples. The data obtained from the interviews was transcribed verbatim. The resulting transcripts were coded using ATLAS.ti and analysed using thematic analysis. The current study argues that fathers’ care interactions with children can contribute to a broader societal appreciation of care and global research on fatherhood by adding voices from the African continent care.