Fathering Across the Border: Latino Fathers in Mexico and the U.S.

Abstract

This qualitative study gives voice to Latino fathers’ perceptions of their roles and values in family life by analyzing data collected from 32 Latino men residing in an Urban Mexican setting and both urban and rural settings in the U.S. The authors utilize a symbolic interactionist framework and ecological theory to illustrate the cultural nature of fatherhood constructions, the impact of immigration on patterns of change and continuity in paternal behaviors and values, and the importance of intergenerational influences in the formation of fatherhood perceptions. Fathers articulate the importance of education for their children, how they discipline, the impact of machismo, and other contrasting views of fathering in Mexico and the U.S. The findings support the idea of “generative fathering” to describe the resiliency of Latino fathers and the contributions they make to families, communities, and future generations. Implications for future research on fathers are suggested including the need to focus on the complex cultural nature of fatherhood constructions.