A1 Journal article (refereed)
Is fatherhood allowed? : Media discourses of fatherhood in organizational life (2019)
Kangas, E., Lämsä, A.-M., & Jyrkinen, M. (2019). Is fatherhood allowed? : Media discourses of fatherhood in organizational life. Gender, Work and Organization, 26(10), 1433-1450. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12352
The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Kangas, Emilia; Lämsä, Anna-Maija; Jyrkinen, Marjut
Journal or series: Gender, Work and Organization
ISSN: 0968-6673
eISSN: 1468-0432
Publication year: 2019
Volume: 26
Issue number: 10
Pages range: 1433-1450
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12352
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/66536
Abstract
It has been claimed that in the context of organizations and management, fathers are invisible. One source of tension for fathers who work and who want to participate in family life is that even though involved fatherhood is emerging in many western societies, a family‐oriented male identity is likely to be problematic for men in organizations. This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of a professional and managerial men's work–family relationship using discourse analysis on data from three different media sources in Finland, published during 1990–2015. We identified two competing discourses: one of stasis, the other of change. The stasis discourse is constructed around traditionally masculine management and fatherhood roles, while the changing discourse embodies more diverse masculinities and fatherhood. We conclude that although the discourse on fatherhood in the organizational context is moving towards gender equality, at the same time a strong discourse is putting a brake on such development, especially regarding management.
Keywords: parenthood; paternity; gender roles; masculinity; working life; organisational culture; management culture; gender
Free keywords: fatherhood; leadership; organization; work-family relationship
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Social and Economic Sustainability of Future Worklife: Policies, Equalities and Intersectionalities in Finland (WEALL)
- Lämsä, Anna-Maija
- Research Council of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2019
JUFO rating: 2