Continuity and Change in Middle Class Fatherhood, 1925-1939: The Culture-Conduct Connection
Author(s)
LaRossa, Ralph; Reitzes, Donald C.
Abstract
One of the most fascinating, yet least understood, eras in the history of fatherhood is the period between the two World Wars. It was during this time that the Great Depression reportedly reduced men’s involvement with their children, while popular magazine articles and books touted the arrival of a new, more nurturant dad. What connection was there between the social reality of fatherhood inside the home and the social reality of fatherhood in popular culture? At this point, the answer is unclear. Drawing on a content analysis of advice-seeking letters penned between 1925 and 1939 – letters in which fathers and mothers wrote to educator and author Angelo Patri (1876-1965) for childrearing advice – we present evidence that supports the proposition that the culture of fatherhood and conduct of fatherhood in Depression-era America were at odds. At the same time, however, we find a connection between the culture of fatherhood and the attitudes of mothers toward fathers. Ultimately, we illustrate how economic factors and ideological factors – operating selectively and at cross purposes – impact on the social institution of fatherhood in the US.
