Beyond Breadwinners: Men, Fathers, and New Gender Orders

Research on men and masculinities has gained increasing visibility within sociology, reflecting both the diversification of gender research and the changing realities of men’s lives. At the same time, fatherhood has attracted more attention where transformations of masculinity are made visible and contested. This session seeks to explore the intersections of men’s identities, practices, and social positions with the multiple and evolving meanings of fatherhood in contemporary societies.

Across contemporary societies, men are navigating shifting expectations, from traditional models that emphasize breadwinning and authority to emerging norms of emotional openness, active caregiving, and gender equality. Yet these shifts are unevenly distributed and profoundly shaped by social class, migration histories, ethnicity, sexuality, and local policy frameworks. Comparative research indicates that whereas some fathers adopt practices of care and partnership, others experience tensions between institutional constraints, workplace cultures, and their own aspirations. Beyond fatherhood, men also negotiate shifting ideals in various domains of life, including intimate relationships, health, education, and employment, where notions of responsibility, vulnerability, and power continue to evolve.

This session invites contributions that address the diversity and complexity of men’s experiences, whether as fathers, partners, workers, citizens, or sons. We are particularly interested in research that situates men and fathers within broader debates on gender, care, and social change; that interrogates the reproduction of inequalities alongside possibilities for transformation; and that foregrounds men’s voices without losing sight of structural conditions. Together, these perspectives will advance a richer sociological understanding of men and masculinities in societies around the world today.