MALE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS IN AUSTRALIA - THE PROCESS OF BECOMING AND BEING

Over the past twenty years, researchers and other surveyors of the gen eral population have noted changes in the stated ideals and to some ex tent the behaviours of couples regarding parenting and workforce manag ement. The movement of women into the workforce, notions of equal oppo rtunity, ideals of egalitarianism, a redefinition of masculinity and a greater emphasis on the responsibilities of fathers, all have the pot ential to shift traditional levels of responsibility on both the home and work fronts. One aspect of a seven-year qualitative study of 25 Au stralian families, where the men had taken on the primary parenting po sition, was an exploration of the following questions: what influences do historical cultural values have in this situation? and what capaci ty do these men have to negotiate for the occupation of what has tradi tionally been a female position? The aspects which provided a focus fo r the exploration of these topics were the contexts of prior socializa tion of these couples and the processes involved in changing and occup ying different positions. A complexity of circumstance, beliefs and ac tion, which shifted and changed over the course of the investigation, was revealed. Particular processes of often powerful and certainly res ourceful negotiation, adjustment, evaluation and reflection were also identified in the course of these men becoming and being male primary caregivers.