Fatherhood stories: Grandparents, grandchildren, and gender differences

Abstract

The meanings of fatherhood conveyed in grandparent stories told by adult grandchildren vary both by the sex of the grandchild and by the sex of the grandparent who figures in the story. An inductive analysis was conducted of fatherhood stories involving grandparents as told by adult grandchildren ( N = 79). Findings suggest that grandsons drew on stories about grandparents to present fatherhood as centered on work and recreation, and to suggest that women play supporting roles. Granddaughters’ stories were less positive, and suggested that women must make up for perceived deficiencies of fathers. This qualitative study is the first to explore same- and cross-sex similarities and differences in grandparents’ socialization of grandchildren into meanings of good fathering.