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THE ROLE OF A FATHER IN THE MODERN FAMILY

L. Russkikh

Abstract

The major research objective was to study the social role of the paternity in a modern family. Nowadays the family has been transformed as a social institution, and its importance in the life of both men and women is decreasing. More and more people choose a career at the expense of the family, childfree phenomenon becomes popular. On the one hand, there is an increase in single-parent families and a decrease in the father's overall contribution to the upbringing of children. On the other hand, there is a reorientation of the vital roles of man and woman, the roles of father and mother. The problems of preservation and strengthening the family as the main institution of a society are of concern to many researchers, but the focus of their attention is directed, most often, to the study the motherhoodВ’ problems. Methodology. Paternity as a phenomenon has been considered from the standpoint of the structural-functional, socio-cultural and social constructivism approaches. The research methodology combines qualitative and quantitative methods. Methods of collecting primary data were the questionnaire and the focus- group. The study was conducted in a large regional center and a typical small town of the Russian Federation. The respondents were men- parents of different generations. Findings and discussion. The study has revealed the main types of paternity as well as the factors that affect their formation. It should be noted that the responsible type of paternity is the most common in modern families. A family for men is one of the basic values. However, the majority of men show an egalitarian view of the distribution of economic functions and responsibilities in the family. When interacting with children, men fully realize such functions as disciplinary, intellectual and moral education and the function of joint leisure. The study has revealed a strong correlation between the ratio of men to his fatherly duties and the fact that his living with children. The research established that divorced men lose emotional contact with their children and try to compensate for their lack of material gifts, expensive purchases etc. This is especially true for men who have children in a new marriage. The study has shown that a man - father in modern society continues to fulfill the basic social role - the breadwinner of the family, but he does it together with his wife. The findings have suggested that a father is a woman's partner in the upbringing of children and in the performance of household duties in the modern Russia. Men try to meet the requirements of society, which is quite problematic, as the social status of the father has changed. Meanwhile, the ideas about the image of the father remain indistinct. The study has revealed the positive dynamics of fathers being gradual involved in the process of children education.

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