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Images of Ex-Wives in the Discourse of Young Fathers
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Images of Ex-Wives in the Discourse of Young Fathers
Annotation
PII
S013216250013020-5-
DOI
10.31857/S013216250013020-5
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Olga N. Bezrukova 
Occupation: Acting Head of the Department of youth sociology and youth policy
Affiliation: St. Petersburg State University
Address: Russian Federation, St. Petersburg
Valentina A. Samoylova
Occupation: Assoc. Prof.
Affiliation: St. Petersburg State University
Address: Russian Federation, St. Petersburg
Edition
Issue 12
Pages
116-127
Abstract

We analyzed the images demonstrated by young fathers related to their ex-wives based on the interviews with 18 young divorced fathers. We found that young fathers perceive their ex-wives as "a bad wife" and "a bad mother" reflecting negative evaluation and contradictory stereotypes of woman's role in a family. Following typology of a "bad" wife was construed: "a dictator", "an aggressor", "a consumer", "a clinker", "a drama queen", or "a princess". Also, following typology of a "bad" mother was typical: "hardly a mother", "lazybones", "an egoist", "cast-iron nature", "a snow queen", or "a social climber". We concluded that negative perceptions about ex-wives reflect the presence of an acute conflict between the spouses with an escalation largely impacted by contradictory gender stereotypes about the traditional roles of a woman, about the gender norms inherent for an "ideal" and "good" mother, about "intense" motherhood, and finally serve as manifestation of fathers' wounded masculine identity. It was found that mutually unmet expectations of former spouses can be explained by lacking social maturity and competence, as well as egocentrism and pragmatism, which damage feelings and willingness for family service. We noted that the desire of men to apply the model of involved fatherhood is accompanied by fathers' invasion into "mothers' territory", which changes the balance of power in the family, provokes conflicts, and aggravates competition between parents. The lack of agreement related to common values, the priority of individualistic values to the damage of reciprocity lead to an imbalance in family life manifesting in mistrust, negativism, and rough relations between young men and women. As a conclusion, we offer directions of possible support for divorced fathers.

Keywords
fatherhood, masculinity, divorce, intensive motherhood, child interests, gender stereotypes, gender norms
Acknowledgment
The reported study was funded by RFBR according to the research project No 19-011-00543.
Received
11.12.2020
Date of publication
24.12.2020
Number of purchasers
4
Views
50
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0.0 (0 votes)
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