Why Young Men in South Africa Plan to Become Teenage Fathers

Implications for the Development of Masculinities within Contexts of Poverty

Bibliographic Data

ID15345746
AuthorsLynn Hendricks (0000-0003-0382-4163, Early Learning Resource Unit, Cape Town, South Africa), Swartz (0000-0001-9886-5181, Human Sciences Research Council, corresponding author), Arvin Bhana (0000-0003-4235-0108, Human Sciences Research Council)
Year2010
Volume20
Issue4
Pages527-536
Publication date2010-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychology in Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1433-0237 • E-ISSN: 1815-5626
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14330237.2010.10820411
OpenAlexW1534836473
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited42

Drawing on in-depth interviews with young fathers (n=37) aged 14 to 20 in impoverished communities in South Africa, this study focuses on the young men who intentionally planned to have children while still teenagers. It interrogates their reasons for doing so, as well as their responses to their impending fatherhood and reactions after the birth of their child. Reasons such as wish-fulfillment, leaving a legacy, wanting to keep a partner, and wanting to be seen as ‘fashionable’ amongst their peers are discussed. An analysis is provided of the relationship between young fatherhood, poverty and masculinities. Key to the discussion are the interrelated notions of ownership and responsibility, and the ways in which impoverished young men find young fatherhood to be a powerful mediator in contexts where alternative pathways to exhibiting dominant masculinities are scarce

Developmental psychology · Economic growth · Masculinity · Poverty · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · Psychology

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