Can coloured men be good fathers and will society let them? An intergenerational exploration of coloured men in Cape Town and their caring practices

Abstract

Includes bibliographical references.It is unclear, in the South African context, how fatherhood has changed among the different historical generations, and how practices change and are transmitted from fathers to sons, particularly within Coloured families. Statistics concerning the number of Coloured men who are ‘present’ fathers suggest an overwhelming absence: up to 48% of families are without a father. The historical and social perceptions of Coloured men have often painted them as violent, crude and socially absent in the lives of their children. By investigating fatherhood, using an intergenerational case study method, at the individual, family and community levels, this project seeks to provide a holistic and complex account of the ways fatherhood operates in contemporary social life; particularly looking at those men who are present and active in the lives of their children. The study seeks ways to describe and understand the nature of fatherhood for this group of men, examining the intersections of fatherhood, masculinity, and racial identity. The research will uncover what men themselves think and feel about fatherhood and how they enact their roles as fathers and caregivers