Paternidade em transformação: o pai singular e sua família

Abstract

This study presents a research on paternity and its demands which are arosen by modernization. The starting point is the behavior of the single father as the man who retains the guardianship of children after divorce. The theoretical frame is based on the constructivist and systemic approuch of family.

The subjects are ten men different ages and economic-education background, who are divided in tree groups, as long as time of guardianship is concerned: 1 to 2 years, 3 to ~ years and more than 6 years. They have one or two children, both sexes, age from 2 to 23 years old.

The method was that of a qualitative research with the use of in-depth interview. The contests reported in interview led to the conclusion that a double phased pattern is the determinant

of the experience of the Ss. In a first phase, they are concerned with home organization and adjustment to daily life by the children, so providing- family life with a pattern of efficacy similar to the one found in the professional ;world. In the second phase, a major period of difficulties is experienced by father, due the necessity of facing the growing emotional needs of the family system as a whole.

The ability to cope with such emotional demands, made possible the arisal of more flexible way of functioning within the family. Also for the fathers themselves, the process of transformation which was active over self-satisfaction, self-perception and perception of the relationships could be noticed.

Some suggestions are made as far as the consequences of this process for the study of paternity as a whole and for family counceling as well