Conclusions

Abstract

This concluding chapter brings together all the threads and provides a consistent theoretical analysis of contemporary fatherhood. Although it would seem reasonable to claim that many countries can be labeled post-patriarchal, rudimentary patriarchal structures still affect family life and structure work-life balances in contemporary families to a certain extent. Family practices are formed, but not determined, by different welfare regimes, labor markets and employer policies. Furthermore, family practices are crucially filtered and colored by beliefs, norms and values at the national, institutional, group and individual level. The transformations of fatherhood studied in this book are complex and often contradictory.