Scholarship on fatherhood in the 1990s and beyond

Throughout the 1990s, scholars interested in fatherhood have generated a vo luminous, rich, and diverse body of work. We selectively review this litera ture with an eve toward prominent theoretical, methodological, and substant ive issues, This burgeoning literature, complemented by social policy maker s' heightened interest in fathers and families, focuses on fatherhood in at least 4 key ways. First, theorists have studied fatherhood as a cultural r epresentation that is expressed through different sociocultural processes a nd embedded in a larger ecological context. Second, researchers have concep tualized and examined the diverse forms of fatherhood and father involvemen t. Third, attempts have been made to identify the linkages between dimensio ns of the father-child relationship and developmental outcomes among childr en and fathers. Fourth, scholars have explored the father identity as part of a reciprocal process negotiated by men, children, mothers, and other int erested parties, Our review highlights research that examines the relations hips between dimensions of the father-child relationship and children's wel l-being and development. We conclude by discussing promising avenues of sch olarship for the next generation of research on fatherhood.