Abstract
This chapter explores the various legal understandings attached to the notion of Irish fatherhood in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the ramifications these frameworks have created for men wanting to be active parents to their children. Parenthood for much of the twentieth century was synonymous with motherhood according to the Irish courts, based on the perception that a biological mother’s right to be her child’s guardian was a natural product of her genetic link with her child, excluding any rights for fathers wanting to participate in the parenting process. Purvis argues that the Irish legal system has been one of the last bastions for outmoded beliefs about men, fatherhood and the role some parents wish to have in their children’s lives.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsAuthor information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Purvis, D.E. (2019). Irish Fatherhood in the Twentieth Century. In: Barr, R., Brady, S., McGaughey, J. (eds) Ireland and Masculinities in History. Genders and Sexualities in History. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02638-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02638-7_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02637-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02638-7
eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)