Fathers, Sons and Daughters: Exploring Fatherhood, Renewing the Bond

An exploration of fathers and fathering examines the complex relationships between fathers and their children and discusses the changing social and psychological context of fatherhood, historical perspectives, and more. Original.

This collection of brief, accessible essays and fiction (most excerpts from longer works) offers many perspectives on fatherhood, with an emphasis on New Age therapists and writers, like Robert Bly, who consider "father hunger" a significant problem. Entries on the evolving meaning of fatherhood discuss Jungian archetypes, a father who "mothered" his young children in the 1940s when his wife was hospitalized with amnesia and the spirituality of parenting. Essays on the father-son relationship include Stephen Butterfield's story of fatherly nurturing, as well as the bemused reconciliation the writer Ram Dass experiences with his wealthy, conservative father as they make raspberry jam together. The section on the often dysfunctional father-daughter bond ends with Tom Pinkson "creating a new current in contemporary male mythology" by ritually celebrating his daughters' first menstruations. Essays on new images of fatherhood address the complications faced by stepfathers, single fathers, gay fathers and grandfathers. Finally, writers reflect thoughtfully on personal experiences of "renewing the bond" with fathers and suggest ways readers might also do so. Scull is a Northern California psychologist.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.