Exploratory study of fatherhood aspirations amongst young men in Singapore.

Abstract

Research on what unmarried and childless young men as prospective fathers think about fatherhood has been scarce. There is however an increasing concern amongst family scholars and policy makers on what prospective fathers think about fatherhood.

This study seeks to fill this gap by providing a deeper understanding of how unmarried and childless young men in Singapore think about fatherhood and the act of fathering. Through 17 in-depth face-to-face interviews with young men residing in Singapore, findings suggest that prospective fathers wish to establish a close emotional relationship with their future child not unlike many elements of Gidden's 'pure relationship'.

Unlike many previous studies that deal mainly with levels of fatherhood involvement, this study focuses on how unmarried and childless young men in Singapore conceptualize, verbalize and give meaning to fatherhood and acts of fathering, all the while keeping in mind that they themselves will one day, be a father.