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Problematizing the Gendered Substructures of Capitalist Economy

A new study published by William Marsiglio and Kevin Roy, Nurturing Dads: Social Initiatives for Contemporary Fatherhood, examines current fathering practices and provides a vision of what a more involved form of fatherhood could be. The first part of the book is based on in-depth interviews with over 300 men living in the United States. Among the men interviewed are biological and adoptive fathers, gay fathers, fathers who share child custody with ex-spouses, and fathers who were or are currently in prison. This extensive data set enables the authors to examine in great depth the many meanings that men associate with fatherhood, their parenting and coparenting strategies, and personal fears about failing at parenthood. Marsiglio and Roy then draw upon their broad knowledge of family research and social policy to conceptualize a framework for enhancing men’s involvement as fathers in their children’s lives. Their proposed strategies would enlist stakeholders from local communities and school boards, legislators, parents, employers, and educators who, ideally, would work together to transform hegemonic practices of fathering. Marsiglio and Roy’s policy and programmatic proposals do not advocate for a particular parenting arrangement for children. Rather, they identify overlapping areas of concern among presumed stakeholders regarding men’s parenting practices and outline key components of potential programs for enhancing involved fathering practices. The authors’ use of qualitative data to help the reader to understand which programs and policies are needed is incredibly convincing. The book will be of great interest to family scholars, policymakers, and local community leaders alike. Although Nurturing Dads is one of countless books published on the topic of parenting, the volume is distinctive in that it links men’s roles as fathers to the ‘‘stalled’’ feminist revolution and identifies the steps that would need to be taken by men to help ‘‘un-stall’’ it. Feminist scholars have argued for years that drastic changes in how men fulfill personal family responsibilities are required for equality between the sexes to become a reality. Feminist scholars contend that un-stalling the revolution requires transformation of work organizations and paid employment in ways that support workers’ family obligations and involvements, and transformation of society in ways that place a premium on reproductive labor (childcare, domestic labor, etc.). But where exactly does this overhaul of gender practices, parent-child relations, and by implication, capitalism, begin? Are such transformations possible, especially in the current socioeconomic context of the United States? Given that most U.S. citizens would surely resist mandates issued by lawmakers to require men to do more carework, work organizations to make jobs family-friendly, or for states to pay for childcare, coalitionbuilding and long-term strategies are clearly required. Marsiglio and Roy acknowledge that support for their proposals would have to be widespread. They outline the Nurturing Dads: Social Initiatives for Contemporary Fatherhood, by William Marsiglio and Kevin Roy. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation, 2012. 290pp. $35.00 paper. ISBN: 97808715 45664.