Abstract

MATOS, Mariana Gouvêa de  and  MAGALHAES, Andrea Seixas. Becoming fathers: the expectations of young adults. Pensando fam. [online]. 2014, vol.18, n.1, pp.78-91. ISSN 1679-494X.

The postponement of the project of having children, which results in late motherhood and fatherhood, especially for middle-class Brazilians, is a recent phenomenon. The aim of the present study is to investigate the expectations of young adults in relation to becoming fathers and mothers today. In order to meet this goal, a qualitative research was conducted, in which four young adults were interviewed. Participants were two men and two women from carioca middle-class. From the discursive analysis of interviews four categories emerged: biological time; financial stability; father’s place, and the perfect moment to become fathers and mothers. Results point to idealization of the perfect moment to become fathers and mothers, as well as to a disjunction between social demands and biological limitations in the face of procreation.

Keywords : Parenthood; Young adult; Contemporary.

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