It will be held at the Law of Faculty, Block B, Auditorium Level 3, National University of Singapore Bukit Timah Campus.

Conference Convenor:
Prof W. Jean Yeung
Email: ariywj@nus.edu.sg
Asia Research Institute and Department of Sociology, NUS

This conference will provide a platform for scholars and policy makers to discuss issues related to the trend, determinants, and consequences of father involvement, as well as policies and interventions that engage men in family lives in Asia. We aim to gain a better understanding about (1) the nature of Asian men’s diverse roles and challenges they face in becoming involved in their children’s lives, (2) diverse policies and practice-based interventions related to fatherhood in Asian countries.

A number of profound demographic and socioeconomic transformations in the second half of the 20th century have significantly altered men’s roles in the family. There is a heightened expectation of men’s family involvement as the gender ideologies become more egalitarian, labor market attachment among women with young children strengthens, marital dissolution rates rise, and the geographic mobility increases as the globalization forces unfold. Previously expected to be primarily an economic provider and a moral teacher, the “new fathers” are now expected to also provide day-to-day physical and emotional care to children as an equal partner of the mother. Despite findings of a considerably lower level of physical involvement by fathers in the child rearing activities than mothers, recent studies have demonstrated that father’s involvement, both in absolute and relative terms, has increased in many western industrialized countries.

A burgeoned body of literature documents the positive associations between fathers’ involvement and children’s well-being, martial relationship, and father’s own development. Research has shown that variability in men’s transitions to fatherhood predicts different trajectories and outcomes regarding father involvement and family well-being. Most such research has been conducted in the western industrialized countries. Little systematic work has been conducted on fatherhood in Asia where family research has traditionally focused on mother’s roles. There is a need to understand whether and how men’s family roles has changed, how they differ from those in the western societies, and what consequences such changes have on the well-being of family members. In Asia, families are experiencing rapid transitions under diverse cultural, demographic, socioeconomic, and policy contexts. For example, in many societies, patriarchy remains a dominant family ideology despite an impressive increase in women’s education and labor force participation. Many men retain the main disciplinary figure in the family and refrain from showing emotional support to children. In China, the one-child policy has had a significant impact on gender roles, and on parent-child relationships. In countries such as the Philippines or Sri Lanka, a large number of women leave their families for a long stretch of time to work in other countries, leaving children with their fathers. In Singapore, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and HK, the “ultra-low” fertility rates have altered family dynamics and changed expectations to men’s roles. Other trends such as an increase in interracial or transnational marriages and the wide range of work-family policies in different Asian countries are likely to have varied impact on men’s family roles in these countries.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. Do register early as seats are available on a first come, first served basis. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP to Miss Sharon Ong via email: arios@nus.edu.sg indicating your name, email, designation, organisation/affiliation and contact number.