Allan Westerling – författare

This edited collection shows that good parenthood is neither fixed nor stable. The contributors show how parenthood is equally done by men, women and children, in and through practices involving different normative guidelines. The book explores how normative layers of parenthood are constituted by notions such as good childhood, family ideals, national public health and educational strategies. The authors illustrate how different versions of parenthood coexist and how complex sets of actions are demanded to fulfil today’s expectations of parenthood in Western societies. This interdisciplinary book will be of interest to research scholars in child and family studies, students, experts, social workers, politicians, teachers and parents.

With the conditions of parenthood constantly changing, this book examines the reconfiguration of parenting as well as the political, institutional, and personal conditions that play a role in its development.Juhl and Westerling take a social psychological approach to the state of Denmark’s early childhood education policy, and the influence of government legislature on everyday family life. With contributions from guest authors Hansen, Lyndelse, and Stegeager, the volume seeks the answers to significant questions: what does the current political focus on early learning mean for parents and family living? How do transnational political agendas become meaningful in everyday life of parents and young children? How do new generations of parents come to understand themselves in the light of contemporary institutionalisation of parenthood? The discussion and answers to these questions shed light on the complexity of family practices and the perspectives of parents.The book is relevant and insightful for researchers and scholars in family policy, parenthood, and early childhood education and care. It can also be used by early childhood educators and care practitioners, as well as policymakers. Moreover, students at the postgraduate level who study education, psychology, and sociology will also benefit from this volume.

Drawing on extensive empirical research, this book examines paternal involvement in caregiving practices and asks what is currently happening to ‘involved’ fatherhood? The book investigates fatherhood in various everyday settings, such as outdoor spaces, workplaces and the home, while considering the influence of policy frameworks across different European countries. By analysing fathers’ experiences and the impact of policy on familial roles, it provides fresh insights into the concept of ‘involvement’ and progression towards practices of more equitable fatherhood. Encouraging new thinking on paternal engagement, this is a critical look at how fatherhood is navigated, negotiated and understood within diverse cultural and policy contexts in everyday life.