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Reframing Fathers: Dad Bloggers as a Digital Counterpublic

Sun, August 12, 10:30 to 11:30am, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Floor: Level 100, 103B

Abstract

Dad bloggers are a group of men who write online parenting blogs and use other social media to narrate and discuss their experiences of fatherhood. In this paper, I closely examine this community of North American fathers and the discourses they construct. Based on a qualitative analysis of observations, blog posts, and interviews, I present findings that speak to the collective interests, actions, and goals of this group. In particular, I highlight three predominant themes. First, dad bloggers strive to grow their community of involved fathers. Second, they perform acts of resistance that challenge media representations of men as fathers. And third, they are vocal advocates for social and political issues relevant to parents. Overall, I argue that dad bloggers constitute a digital counterpublic sphere aimed at reframing fathers and reconstructing the public face of fatherhood in North America.

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