Introduction

Research on fatherhood has increased in recent years, especially in the form of qualitative studies that allow a deeper understanding of specific aspects of fatherhood, such as fathers’ representations and expectations, paternal care practices and relationship with the mother. In this chapter, while confirming the benefits of qualitative research, we discuss how a quantitative approach to researching fatherhood can highlight interesting aspects, giving a brief overview of the topic in large and important surveys.

Researchers agree that the transition to parenthood, long treated mainly as a female issue, is relevant today for both mothers and fathers; in fact, broad trends point to men's increasing desire to participate in their children's lives and their involvement in childcare practices (Day and Lamb, 2004; Gregory and Milner, 2011; Miller, 2011; O’Brien and Wall, 2015).

As a consequence, in recent years, fathers have become more visible in the parenting landscape, and scientific literature on their involvement in childcare has grown (Burgess and Russell, 2004; Doucet, 2006; Mahwah et al, 2009; Bosoni, 2014a, 2014b; Miller and Dermott, 2015; Crespi and Ruspini, 2016). The father's role is now widely acknowledged in policy discourse, and a recognition of fathers’ rights and responsibilities is increasingly – although heterogeneously – reflected in social policy systems. Alongside changes taking place in many areas of social life (economic crisis, gender equality issues, transformation in work time and space, the rise of the dual-earner family model and so on), fathers want to share children's education and growth within the family, and the role of work–life balance policies is also crucial in creating new patterns of family relations and gender roles (Lamb and Sagi, 2001; Meth and McClymont, 2009).

Although, in terms of childcare practices, research indicates that fathers engage in a wider range of activities (and to a greater extent) than in the past, they still play a secondary role in childcare, where they are mainly involved in domestic and playing activities but less in physical care, with the mother acting as primary caregiver (Bosoni, 2014b; O’Brien, 2009; Tanturri and Mencarini, 2009). Moreover, studies highlight fathers’ increased emotional connection with children; nurturing and emotionally involved fathers thus seem to suggest a new model of masculinity, although the traditional breadwinner role is still strong in many countries (Gillies, 2009; Perra and Ruspini, 2013).