Cultural Responsiveness and Father Engagement: What Can We Learn From Fathers?

• In Event: Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families

Abstract

Fathers play a unique and important role in children’s lives. However, gendered attitudes and practices with families have precluded their full engagement in children’s education. Twenty-three fathers from ethnically and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds participated in interviews and focus groups to describe their definitions of father involvement, strengths as fathers, and needs, in order for the community to meaningfully address their marginalization. A collaborative, qualitative analysis of data led to the identification of five themes capturing the powerful influence of mothers, transformation of families, relevance of self-improvement, focus on extra-curriculars, and fathers’ desire to connect with other fathers. Implications for schools and communities are offered in hopes to disrupt current practices and design more inclusive and equitable family engagement approaches.

Author

• Kyle Elizabeth Miller, Illinois State University