African American Fathers’ Socialization Motivations and Messages: Intersections of Race, Gender, & Religiosity

• In Event: 3-216 - The Role of Religious Socialization in Black Youth Adjustment

Integrative Statement

Studies have highlighted African American fathers’ ideologies as a key catalyst for engagement and involvement with their children (Bowman, 1990; Hunter et al., 2006; Jarrett, Roy & Burton, 2002; McAdoo & McAdoo, 1994; Roy, 2008). These ideologies, often reflecting familial and cultural influences, are closely aligned with their parenting practices. Despite the contributions of work, there are relatively few studies that examine African American fathers’ parenting motives in conjunction with their actual practices. Utilizing qualitative methodological approach, the current investigation has 2 interconnected aims: 1) exploring motives for fathers’ socialization strategies and 2) examining the implicit and explicit socialization strategies for their children.

The data presented are part of a qualitative investigation examining fatherhood processes among African American fathers. Participants were 26 African American fathers (M= 32.4) with adolescent children (M= 13.2 years). All fathers resided in the Southeastern region of the United States. An open coding approach was utilized to identify themes in fathers’ socialization motives and their practices. Content analyses revealed that fathers employed a diverse parenting approach, incorporating several dimensions (educational, ethnic-racial, parental monitoring/discipline, gender, religious). In particular, analyses revealed that African American fathers’ messages about the African American cultural experience also encompassed messages about religiosity (e.g., “ensuring that children go to church as part of connection to African American community”). For fathers, religiosity was primarily focused related practices (e.g., “going to church regularly”; “engaging in church activities”) and was used as a mechanism for parental monitoring, establishing and maintaining discipline. Religious socialization, which intersected with ethnic-racial socialization, reflected a strong intergenerational focus (“church as a place to connect with family and community”). This intergenerational focus comprised their own reflections (e.g., their own experiences growing and the role of religion in their lives) and critiques about the current role of the African American church (e.g. “churches have strayed away from goals”).

Fathers’ motives for socialization were as varied as actual socialization messages. Mirroring the larger literature, risk reduction and the promotion of positive development were key motives for fathers. In line with existing studies, risk reduction motivations were highly gendered, with fathers communicating: 1) worries about the prevention of pregnancy; 2) coupling with appropriate partners for daughters and 3) achievement/ career planning as a mechanism for racial equality. Though similar themes emerged, African American fathers highlighted 1) managing safety (e.g., awareness of profiling); 2) managing negative stereotypes (i.e., “dressing appropriately”); 3) modeling fatherhood (i.e., “communicating their own experiences with their fathers”); and 4) acknowledging school and academic risks for sons.

African American fathers’ socialization and parenting motives were strongly anchored in the role of race and culture in the development of sons and daughters, which included explicit and implicit communications about religiosity and gender. Collectively, our investigation highlights the complexities surrounding African American fathers’ socialization motives and actual socialization practices.

Authors

• Marketa Burnett, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Presenting Author

• Shauna Cooper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Author

• Janae Shaheed, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Author

• Margarett McBride, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Author