“I Hardly Understand English, But…”: Mexican Origin Fathers Describe Their Commitment as Fathers Despite the Challenges of Immigration

Abstract

Interviews with 19 Mexican origin fathers in two parts of the United States examined how these men describe their parenting practices and give meaning to their involvement with their children. A grounded theory approach guided by ecological theory revealed salient themes, which included immigration, parental involvement, discipline, decision-making, parenting roles and relationships with their children. Present findings described the important ways in which the experience of immigration influences the fathering experiences of Mexican origin fathers. Such findings challenge traditional stereotypes that depict Mexican origin fathers as uninvolved and emotionally unavailable. In addition, data from this study illustrate that despite the challenges of fathering in the face of immigration challenges, fathers in this sample remain highly committed to their children and their families. Overall, results showed that cultural changes related to immigration were multidimensional and that both social and cultural variables have unique relations to Mexican immigrant fathering practices.