Understanding the roles of masculinity and transnationality in family formation for a Mexican-American adolescent father

Abstract

Although adolescent parents experience unique challenges (e.g., economic hardship) related to early parenthood, little is known about the gender roles and transnationality of Latino adolescent fathers. Additionally, their experiences and traditional ethnic roles (e.g., machismo) also need more attention within the literature. To fill these gaps, the following qualitative case study applied an intersectional lens to understand how a Mexican-American adolescent experiences and understands the unique intersection of his transnationality and fatherhood identities. Findings uncovered that hegemonic machismo within the father’s family of origin was reinforced through transnational relationships. Influences from platonic female peers led to the construction of a more flexible development of his gender role. This reinforcement provided an understanding of how he conceptualized his ideal family, which in turn influenced how he viewed his future. Practitioners and researchers should consider how unique intersections of identity in multicultural contexts shape expressions of cultural values when developing culturally competent practices within Latino communities. Findings suggest some potential areas of focus (e.g., developing strategies to foster healthy family relationships and fathering practices) that, if addressed, could help reduce family conflict and enhance healthy family functioning for this population.