FATHERING IN INDIA: IMAGES AND REALITIES

Book Details:

• Author: Rajalakshmi Sriram

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2024

• ISBN: 9789819701926

• Pages: 384

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book

This book explores the relatively underexplored subject of 'fathering' in India, examining how men in India navigate their roles as both providers and caregivers within the culturally prescriptive context of their society. Based on over two decades of research, the book unpacks the diversity within fatherhood and fathering across different contexts—ranging from those in privileged economic situations to fathers in challenging family environments, fathers with disabled children, single-parent fathers, and fathers in the military.

The work also highlights the experiences of fathering daughters and shared parenting, further illustrated through popular culture, such as Hindi films, media, children's literature, and classical literature. Moving beyond traditional perspectives that often frame Indian men in terms of power and control, the book emphasizes their resilience, adaptability, positive involvement, and developmental growth as fathers.

This volume offers invaluable insights for scholars, researchers, and practitioners in fields such as developmental psychology, sociology, human development, family science, early childhood education, psychiatry, pediatrics, and community medicine.

Contents

Part I: Concepts and Perspectives

1. Setting the Scene: The Need for Focus on Fathers and Fathering – Rajalakshmi Sriram

2. A Global Perspective on Fathering – Rajalakshmi Sriram

3. Men as Fathers: An Indian Perspective – Rajalakshmi Sriram

Part II: Fathering in Urban Middle Class: Emerging Realities
4. Nature and Extent of a Father’s Involvement: Research Evidence from Western India – Rajalakshmi Sriram, Antra Verma, Shaffaq Mattu, Gurpreet Sandhu, Amrita Singh
5. Flavours of Fathering in the Indian Capital: Insights from a Qualitative Study – Nimisha Kumar
6. Project ‘Fathering’: First-Time Fathers Talk About Parenting in a Global Economy – Rajalakshmi Sriram
7. Children’s Narratives on the Father-Child Relation – Harpreet Kaur Jass
8. Fathering Amidst the Call of Duty: Children’s Experiences in Military Families – Rajalakshmi Sriram, Rituparna Sarkar
9. My Child Transformed Me: Reflections of Involved Fathers – Arshdeep Kaur

Part III: Fathering: Reflections in Indian Media
10. Dads in Ads: Representation of Fathers in Hindi TV Commercials – Jayana Padalia, Rajalakshmi Sriram
11. Pitaji, Papa and Paa: Reflections of Fathering in Hindi Movies – Manjari Shah, Dharti Takwani, Pooja Sharma, Rajalakshmi Sriram
12. Mirroring Fathers for Children: A Content Analysis of English and Marathi Picture Stories – Prachee Joeg, Sneha Joshi, Rajalakshmi Sriram

Part IV: Fathering: Viewed from a Gender Lens
13. Are Fathers Gender Equal? Experiences of Educated Daughters – Ruchi Singh, Tarjeet Kaur Ahluwalia, Rajalakshmi Sriram
14. You Showed Me the Ways of the World: Daughters’ Essays on Their Fathers – Prachee Joeg, Rajalakshmi Sriram
15. Sharing in Caring: Equations Between the Father and Mother – Rajalakshmi Sriram

Part V: Fathering in Special Circumstances
16. Fathers and Child Education in Tribal Odisha: Reflections of Commitment Amidst Constraints – Vini Gupta, Anubha Rajesh, Shefali Pai-Samant, Pallavi Gupta
17. Fathers’ Involvement with Young Children in Rural Orissa: As Mothers See It – Rekha Sharma Sen, Zubair Meenai
18. Hope and Commitment: Challenges of Fathering Sick Children – Rajalakshmi Sriram
19. Trials and Triumphs of Parenting: Practitioners Look at the Experience of Fathers in Raising Children with Special Needs – Sudipta Roy, Prachee Joeg, Shruti Bhargava
20. ‘New Age Fathering’ and Trysts with Faith – Harpreet Kaur Jass
21. The Three ‘C’s of Single Fathering: Commitment, Constraints and Challenges – Rajalakshmi Sriram
22. Summing Up the Evidence: Final Reflections – Rajalakshmi Sriram

About the Author

Rajalakshmi Sriram, Ph.D. is a former Professor and Head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, India. As Professor Emeritus, she continues to maintain high academic standards and professionalism. Dr. Sriram has made significant contributions to the fields of gender, family, parenting, and early childhood through both research and academic leadership.

She has been an influential figure in advocating for cultural perspectives and has authored a two-volume resource book, Engaging in Social Interventions. Dr. Sriram has had extensive international exposure and has represented India at the International Fatherhood Summit in Oxford, UK, in 2003 to prepare a Fatherhood Policy for the United Nations.

Her research and scholarship have enriched both academic communities and the lives of families, particularly in the realm of fatherhood in India.