Abstract
Quantitative and qualitative Australian evidence shows that fathers and male teachers can have positive impacts in children’s academic and nonacademic lives—and that these impacts are greatest when fathers/males are highly and constructively involved in children’s development. It seems that positive impacts are a function of the father as a parent (or male teacher as a quality educator) rather than the father as a man—as evidenced when fathers are positively involved in child-rearing (and when male teachers implement quality pedagogy). However, because of the generally low levels of father/male involvement in children’s lives, it is evident that there is further scope for children to be more optimally assisted in their academic and nonacademic lives through greater constructive and prosocial involvement of fathers/males. Australian research has suggested ways this can happen and identified some of the challenges and opportunities ahead as practitioners, policy makers, and researchers seek to do this.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ainley, J., & Lonsdale, M. (2000). Non-attendance at school. Report to DETYA. Melbourne: ACER.
Amato, P. (1998). More than money? Men’s contributions to their children’s lives. In A. Booth and A. Crouter (Eds.), Men in families. London: Erlbaum.
Amato, P. R., & Rivera, F. (1999). Paternal involvement and children’s behaviour problems. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 375–783.
Arnot, M. (1991). Equality and democracy: A decade of struggle over education. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 12, 447–784.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2006). Australian social trends (No. 4102.0). Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australian Labor Party. (2004). Making every day Father’s Day: More male role models for boys (Policy Document). Canberra: Australian Labor Party.
Biller, H. B., & Kimpton, J. L. (1997). The father and the school-aged child. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 143–161). New York: Wiley.
Bittman, M. (1995). Occasional paper: Recent changes in unpaid work (Publication No. 4154.0). Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Bittman, M., & Pixley, J (1997). The double life if the family: Myth, hope and experience. Sydney: Alien & Unwin.
Blair, S., Wenk, D. & Hardesty, C. (1994). Marital quality and paternal involvement: Interconnections of men’s spousal and parental roles. Journal of Men’s Studies, 2, 221–237.
Brooks, S. (2002). Reaching fathers. Literacy Today, 32, 7–9.
Cabrera, N., Tamis-LeMonda, C. S., Bradley, R. H., Hofferth, S., & Lamb, M. E. (2000). Fatherhood in the twenty-first century. Child Development, 71, 127–136.
Cairney, T., Ruge, J., Buchanen, J., Lowe, K., & Munsie, L. (1995). Developing partnerships: The home, school and community interface. Canberra: Department of Employment, Education and Training.
Chang, J. J., Halpern, C. T., & Kaufman, J. S. (2007). Maternal depressive symptoms, father’s involvement, and the trajectories of child problem behaviors in a US national sample. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 161, 69755–78703.
Collins, C., Kenway, J., & McLeod, J. (2000). Factors influencing the educational performance of males and females in school and their initial destinations after leaving school. Canberra: DETYA.
Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council. (2007). Background information for new steering committee members for family counsellors, family dispute resolution practitioners and children’s contact services project. Sydney: Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council.
Connell, R. W. (2002). Gender. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Cummings, E. M., & O’Reilly, A. W. (1997). Fathers in family context: Effects of marital quality on child adjustment. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 49–65). New York: Wiley.
David, M. (1993). Parents, gender and educational reform. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. (2000). Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee: Inquiry into the education of boys. Canberra, Australia.
Family Action Centre. (2005). About the 2005 Father-Inclusive Practice Forum. Newcastle: Family Action Centre.
Fletcher, R. (2004). Bringing fathers in handbook: How to engage with men for the benefit of everyone in the family. Newcastle: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.
Fletcher, R. (2008). Father-inclusive practice and associated professional competencies. Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse. AFRC Briefing No. 8. Canberra: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Fletcher, F., & Daly, K. (2002). Fathers’ involvement in their children’s literacy development Newcastle. New South Wales: Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.
Fletcher, R., Fairbairn, H., & Pascoe, S. (2004). Fatherhood research in Australia (Research Report). Newcastle: University of Newcastle.
Fletcher, R., & Silberberg, S. (2006). Involvement of fathers in primary school activities. Australian Journal of Education, 50, 29–39.
Flouri, E., & Buchanan, A. (2002). Life satisfaction in teenage boys: The moderating role of father involvement and bullying. Aggressive Behavior, 28, 126–133.
Goldschieder, F., & Waite, L. (1991). New families, no families: The transformation of the American home. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Grolnick, W., & Ryan, R. (1989). Parent styles associated with children’s self-regulation and competence in school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 81, 143–154.
Grolnick, W., Ryan, R., & Deci, M. (1991). Inner resources for school achievement: Motivational mediators of students’ perceptions of their parents. Journal of Educational Psychology, 83, 508–517.
Haas, L. (1992). Equal parenthood and social policy. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Hand, K. (2006). Mothers’ accounts of work and family decision-making in couple families. Family Matters, 75, 70–76.
Hawkes, T. (2001). Boy oh boy. Frenchs Forest: Prentice Hall.
Hattie, J. (2009). Visible learning. Oxford: Routledge.
Heesacker, M., & Bradley, M. M. (1997). Beyond feelings: Psychotherapy and emotion. The Counselling Psychologist, 25, 201–219.
Heesacker, M., Wester, S. R., Vogel, D. L., Wentzel, J. T., Mejia-Millan, C. M., & Goodholm, C. R. J. (1999). Gender-based emotional stereotyping. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46, 483–495.
Hetherington, E. M., Cox, M., & Cox, R. (1982). Effects of divorce on parents and children. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), Nontraditional families (pp. 233–288). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.
Hetherington, E. M., & Stanley-Hagan, M. M. (1997). The effects of divorce on fathers and their children. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 191–211). New York: Wiley.
Hetherington, E. M., & Stanley-Hagan, M. (1999). The adjustment of children with divorced parents: A risk and resiliency perspective. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40, 129–140.
Hochschild, A. (1989). The second shift: Working parents and the revolution at home. New York: Viking.
Hosley, C. A., & Montemayor, R. (1997). Fathers and adolescents. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 162–178). New York: Wiley.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training. (2002). Boys: Getting it right. Canberra: House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training.
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. (2003). Notice of rejection of application for exemption, Canberra. Retrieved from http://www.humanrights.gov.au/sex_discrimination/exemption/decision.html. Accessed on 27 February 2003.
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. (2005). Striking the balance: Women, men, work and family. Canberra:Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Hyde, J. S. (2005). The gender similarities hypothesis. American Psychologist, 60, 58155–78592.
Jaffee, S., Moffitt, T., Caspi, A., & Taylor, A. (2003). Life with (or without) father: The benefits of living with the biological parents depend on the father’s antisocial behavior. Child Development, 74, 109–126.
Lamb, M. E. (1997a). The development of father-infant relationships. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 104–120). New York: Wiley.
Lamb, M. E. (1997b). Fathers and child development: An introductory overview and guide. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 1–18). New York: Wiley.
Lamb, M. E., & Tamis-Lemonda, C. S. (2003). The role of the father: An introduction. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (4th ed., pp. 1–31). New York: Wiley.
Lee, R. A. (1983). Flexitime and conjugal roles. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 4, 297–315.
Linfoot, K., Martin, A. J., & Stephenson, J. (1997). Evaluation of the APEEL (A Partnership Encouraging Effective Learning) Program: Stage 2—The social behaviour of children aged 3–8 years. Report to NSW Department of Education. Sydney, Australia.
Linfoot, K., Martin, A. J., & Stephenson, J. (2002). Moderating risk factors for the development of conduct disorder in 355–785 year-old children: Preventative intervention with children and their parents. Report to Rotary Australia. Sydney, Australia.
Lingard, B., Martino, W., Mills, M., & Bahr, M. (2002). Addressing the educational needs of boys. Report to Department of Education, Science and Training. Canberra, Australia.
Lloyd, N., O’Brien, M., & Lewis, C. (2003). Fathers in Sure Start local programmes. London: Birkbeck, University of London.
MacDonald, A., Saunders, L., & Benfield, P. (1999). Boys’ achievement progress, motivation and participation: Issues raised by the recent literature. Slough: National Foundation for Educational Research.
Marland, M. (Ed.). (1983). Sex differentiation and schooling. London: Heinemann.
Marsh, H. W. (1989a). Age and sex effects in multiple dimensions of self-concept: Preadolescence to early-adulthood. Journal of Educational Psychology, 81, 417–430.
Marsh, H. W. (1989b). Sex differences in the development of verbal and math constructs: The High School and Beyond study. American Educational Research Journal, 26, 191–225.
Marsh, H. W., Martin, A. J., & Cheng, J. (2008). A multilevel perspective on gender in classroom motivation and climate: Potential benefits of male teachers for boys? Journal of Educational Psychology, 100, 78–95.
Martin, A. J. (2002). Improving the educational outcomes of boys (Report to ACT Department of Education, Youth and Family Services). Canberra, Australia.
Martin, A. J. (2003a). Boys and motivation: Contrasts and comparisons with girls’ approaches to schoolwork. Australian Educational Researcher, 30, 43–65.
Martin, A. J. (2003b). Enhancing the educational outcomes of boys: Findings from the A. C. T. investigation into boys’ education. Youth Studies Australia, 22, 2755–7836.
Martin, A. J. (2003c). The relationship between parents’ enjoyment of parenting and children’s school motivation. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 13, 115–132.
Martin, A. J. (2004). School motivation of boys and girls: Differences of degree, differences of kind, or both? Australian Journal of Psychology, 56, 133–146.
Martin, A. J. (2007). Examining a multidimensional model of student motivation and engagement using a construct validation approach. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 77, 413–447.
Martin, A. J., & Dowson, M. (2009). Interpersonal relationships, motivation, engagement, and achievement: Yields for theory, current issues, and practice. Review of Educational Research, 79, 327–365.
Martin, A. J., Linfoot, K., & Stephenson, J. (2000). Exploring the cycle of mother-child relations, maternal confidence, and children’s aggression. Australian Journal of Psychology, 52, 34–40.
Martin, A. J., & Marsh, H. W. (2005). Motivating boys and motivating girls: Does teacher gender really make a difference? Australian Journal of Education, 49, 320–334.
Martin, A. J., Marsh, H. W., Cheng, J., & Ginns, P. (2010). Fathers and male teachers: Effects on boys’ academic and non-academic development. Childhood Education, 86, 404–408.
Martin, A. J., Marsh, H. W., McInerney, D. M., & Green, J. (2009). Young people’s interpersonal relationships and academic and non-academic outcomes: The relative salience of teachers, parents, same-sex peers, and opposite-sex peers. Teachers College Record, March, http://www.tcrecord.org.
Martin, A. J., Marsh, H. W., McInerney, D. M., Green, J., & Dowson, M. (2007). Getting along with teachers and parents: The yields of good relationships for students’ achievement motivation and self-esteem. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 17, 109–125.
Martin, J., Hiscock, H., Hardy, P., Davey, B., & Wake, M. (2007). Adverse associations of infant and child sleep problems and parent health: An Australian population study. Pediatrics, 119, 755–789.
Marzano, R. (2003). What works in schools. Alexandria: ASCD.
McBride, B., & Mills, G. (1993). A comparison of mother and father involvement with their preschool age children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 8, 457–477.
McBride, B., & Rane, T. (1997). Role identity, role investments and paternal involvement: Implications for parenting programs for men. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 12, 173–197.
Mezulis, A. H., Hyde, J. S., & Clark, R. (2004). Father involvement moderates the effect of maternal depression during a child’s infancy on child behavior problems in kindergarten. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 575–588.
Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). (2000). National report on schooling in Australia. Year 3 reading national benchmark results. Canberra: AGPS.
Misri, S., Kostaras, X., Fox, D., & Kostaras, D. (2000). The impact of partner support in the treatment of postpartum depression. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 55455–78558.
Morgan, A., Nutbrown, C., & Hannon, P. (2009). Fathers’ involvement in young children’s literacy development: Implications for family literacy programmes. British Educational Research Journal, 35, 167–185.
Moore, T., Martin, A. J., Linfoot, K., & Stephenson, J. (2001). The needs of children in the first three years of life and their families: A literature review. Report to NSW Department of Community Services, Sydney, Australia.
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (2004). Fathers’ and mothers’ parenting behavior and beliefs as predictors of children’s social adjustment in the transition to school. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 628–638.
Nichols, S. (1994). Fathers and literacy. The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 17, 301–312.
Nichols, S. (2009, March). Fathers in educational research. Paper presented at the Gender and Education Conference, London.
Nord, C., Brimhall, D., & West, J. (1997). Fathers’ involvement in their children’s schools. Washington: US Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
O’Brien, C., & Rich, K. (2002). Evaluation of the men and family relationships initiative: Final and supplementary report. Canberra: Department of Family and Community Services.
O’Hare, W. P. (1995). KIDS COUNT data book. New York: Annie Casie Foundation.
Ortiz, R. W., Stile, S. W., & Brown, C. (1999). Early literacy activities of fathers: reading and writing with young children. Young Children, 54, 16–18.
Parke, R. D. (1996). Fatherhood. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Pearson, J., & Thoennes, N. (1990). Custody after divorce: Demographic and attitudinal patterns. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60(2), 233–249.
Petty, G. (2006). Evidence-based teaching. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.
Pleck, J. H. (1986). Employment and fatherhood: Issues and innovative policies. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The father’s role: Applied perspectives (pp. 385–412). New York: Wiley.
Pleck, J. H. (1997). Parent involvement: Levels, sources, and consequences. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 66–103). New York: Wiley.
Pleck, J. H., & Masciadrelli, B. P. (2003). Paternal involvement by US residential fathers: Levels, sources, and consequences. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (4th ed., pp. 222–271). New York: Wiley.
Radin, N. (1981). The role of the father in cognitive, academic, and intellectual development. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (pp. 379–428). New York: Wiley.
Radin, N. (1994). Primary-caregiving fathers in intact families. In A. E. Gottfried and A. W. Gottfried (Eds.), Redefining families: Implications for children’s development (pp. 11–54). New York: Plenum.
Raikes, H. H., Summers, J. A., & Roggman, L. A. (2005). Father involvement in early Head Start programs. Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research, and Practice about Men as Fathers, 3, 29–58.
Rowe, K. J. (1997). Factors affecting students’ progress in reading: Key findings from a longitudinal study. In S. L. Swartz and A. F. Klein (Eds.), Research in reading recovery. Portsmouth: Heinmann.
Ruddock, P. (2004). Government moves to address male teacher decline. Media Release 186/2004: Canberra, Australia: Attorney General’s Department.
Russell, G., Barclay, L., Edgecombe, G., Donovan, J., Habib, G., Callaghan, H., et al. (1999). Fitting fathers into families: Men and the fatherhood role in contemporary Australia. Canberra: Department of Family and Community Services.
Shelton, B. (1990). The distribution of household tasks: does wife’s employment status make a difference? Journal of Family Issues, 11, 115–135.
Shonkoff, J. P., & Phillips, D. A. (2000). From neurons to neighborhoods. Washington: National Academy Press.
Skelton, C. (2001). Schooling the boys: Masculinities and primary education. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Skelton, C., Carrington, B., Francis, B., Hutchings, M., Read, B., & Hall, I. (2009). Gender matters in the primary classroom: Pupils’ and teachers’ perspectives. British Educational Research Journal, 35, 18755–78204.
Solsken, J. (1992). Literacy, gender and work in families and in schools. Norwood: Ablex.
Tamis-LeMonda, C., & Cabrera, N. (2002). Multidisciplinary perspectives on father involvement: introduction. In C. Tamis-LeMonda and N. Cabrera (Eds.), Handbook of father involvement: Multidisciplinary perspectives. Mahwah: Erlbaum.
Tamis-LeMonda, C., Shannon, J., Cabrera, N., & Lamb, M. (2004). Fathers and mothers at play with their two- and three-year-olds: contributions to language and cognitive development. Child Development, 75, 1806–1820.
Thompson, L., & Walker, A. (1989). Gender in families: women and men in marriage, work and parenthood. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 51, 845–872.
Tranter, S. (2006). Fathers and Schools Together (FAST) in literacy and learning. In D Hartman (Ed.), Educating boys. Newcastle: Family Action Centre.
Videon, T. M. (2005). Parent—child relations and children’s pyschological well-being: Do dads matter? Journal of Family Issues, 26, 55–78.
Walkerdine, V., & Lucey, H. (1989). Democracy in the kitchen: Regulating mothers and socialising daughters. London: Virago.
West, P. (1996). Fathers, sons, and lovers: Men talk about their lives from the 1930s to today. Sydney: Finch.
Wilson, S., Meagher, G., Gibson, R., Denemark, D., & Western, M. (Ed.). (2005). Australian social attitudes: The first report. Sydney: UNSW Press.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Herb Marsh, Jacqueline Cheng, and Paul Ginns for their involvement in earlier work informing this chapter.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Martin, A. (2013). Male Involvement in Children’s Lives: The Australian Context. In: Pattnaik, J. (eds) Father Involvement in Young Children’s Lives. Educating the Young Child, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5155-2_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5155-2_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5154-5
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5155-2
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)