Abstract
Groups for young men who are fathers can be part of the re-balancing of the perceived feminisation of parenting. Such groups are an example of the work men are doing to support gender equality without demanding the attention of women. Masculinity can be a resource to draw young men together, and by carefully challenging any negative aspects, groups can help young men identify with men in positive ways. Groups do not provide ‘the solution’ to the marginalisation young men who are fathers feel, or the lack of support they find for their parenting endeavours in society, but they can provide a useful opportunity to improve the lives of young men and their families, including around perceptions of gender and parenthood.
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Notes
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We must however remain critical of how much support is available to young mothers, particularly as services are rolled back under austerity agendas, and seek to ensure that all families are able to access support and advice in non-judgemental and ways that are deemed helpful and relevant to their lives.
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Hanna, E. (2018). The Possibility and Promise of Community Groups: Implications and Recommendations. In: Supporting Young Men as Fathers. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71480-6_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71480-6_7
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