What is it about?
This paper explores the dynamics between a male researcher and a male participant when they talk about unwanted male childlessness. It also explores the ethical risk, emotional labour and professional harm in academic settings. Childless men are, compared to women, mostly excluded from mainstream media and geographical, gerontological, psychological, reproductive and sociological research. Over the past 15 years, research literature on both involuntary childlessness and ageing has highlighted the lack of material on men’s experience. Consequently, what men feel and think about becoming a dad are invisible.
Featured Image
Photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator on Unsplash
Why is it important?
There are few studies that examine the interactions when male researchers interview men. The paper illustrates how physical, emotional and ethical dangers affect one’s sense of self. It presents a case for ethical standards to be applied to all academic locations where research is presented.
Perspectives
I hope this article makes people consider the dynamics involved when men interview men on personal and sensitive topics. Moreover, I hope people seriously consider the ethical practice of 'do no harm' in wider academic settings other than data collection.
Dr Robin A Hadley
Manchester Metropolitan University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Men and me(n), Methodological Innovations, May 2020, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/2059799120918336.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Link to 'Open Access’ (free to download) full document at the publishers website.
Link to 'Open Access’ (free to download) copy of 'Men and Me(n).' How to cite: Hadley, R. A. (2020). Men and me(n). Methodological Innovations, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2059799120918336
Book, '"How is a man supposed to be a man"? Male childlessness - a Life Course Disrupted.'
REVIEWS “I think this is an excellent piece of scholarship that covers an often unspoken topic in a sensitive, novel and comprehensive way. In this sense, it contributes important new knowledge to an area by considering it from a different viewpoint – most notably moving beyond a simple biomedical view or an experiential view of younger men and infertility.” • Steve Robertson, University of Sheffield “a ground-breaking book shining the light on men and their experiences, how men may feel when they don’t end up having children for one reason or another e.g. not meeting the right person, infertility.” • Guild of Health Writers “This book provides gerontologists with much needed insights into the lived experiences of male childlessness from a life course perspective embedded in critical theoretical approaches on normative life course expectations, ageing and gender, as well as family and social relations… Robin Hadley’s work is both critical and reflexive. He locates his theoretical work within feminist scholarship and acknowledges his position within the field of research by examining his own biography and social position and what that means when conducting interviews with men who describe themselves as involuntarily childless…The methods chapter can be added to reading lists for postgraduate students and the pen portraits of each of the interviewees are a rare and valuable source for learning about qualitative research and reflexivity.” • Aging and Society “The book has some features that make it interesting to readers from both a professional and a wider audience. First, it is very well referenced and equipped with details related to methodology of the study… It is well written, often in a personalised language, with accounts of the author’s experiences related both to the process of data collection and analysis and to the dissemination of results. The Epilogue particularly warrants attention, as it brings reflections not only on myths around men and masculinities, but also on childlessness in later life and COVID-19 –reflections that additionally illustrate the effects of not becoming a father.” • Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology “A highly personal book yet also an academic one with all the critical rigour that entails and makes this a compelling book. It’s a must read for illuminating men’s experiences of involuntary childlessness for one reason or another…This is a rich thought provoking emotional yet highly academic book – and with its clear structure and excellent index a huge resource to be drawn on.” • Medical Journalists Association “This is an important piece of work that addresses areas of masculinity, sexuality, life and an exploration of lived lives through research that have previously been underrepresented in the academic and public press.” • Josephine Tetley, Manchester Metropolitan University DESCRIPTION The global trend of declining fertility rates and an increasingly ageing population has serious implications for individuals and institutions alike. Childless men are mostly excluded from ageing, social science and reproduction scholarship and almost completely absent from most national statistics. This unique book examines the lived experiences of a hidden and disenfranchised population: men who wanted to be fathers. It explores the complex intersections that influence childlessness over the life course. How to cite: Hadley, R. A. (2021). How is a man supposed to be a man? Male childlessness - a Life Course Disrupted. New York: Berghahn Books.
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
