Ecological Construction of Masculine Identity during the Transition to Fatherhood

Background and Purpose:
The transition to fatherhood is a significant developmental stage in men’s lives that involves the redefinition of masculine identity. During this transition, first-time fathers are often exposed to tensions between traditional hegemonic masculinity and emerging discourses of “new masculinity,” which emphasize emotional engagement and caregiving. This study explores how men experience and reconstruct masculinity during the transition to fatherhood from an ecological perspective.

Methods:
The study is grounded in ecological theory and employs a phenomenological qualitative design. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with first-time Israeli fathers. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis guided by an ecological framework that examines identity construction across multiple contextual levels.

Results:
Findings suggest a multi-layered ecological process of masculine identity reconstruction during the transition to fatherhood. At the individual level, men reported intense emotional experiences that were previously unfamiliar to them, alongside bodily changes and shifts in self-perception. At the microsystem level, fathers reconstructed their masculine identity in relation to their partners, negotiating expectations, caregiving responsibilities, and emotional involvement. At the mesosystem level, identity construction occurred through ongoing negotiation with broader social norms, including cultural expectations of masculinity and perceptions of other men regarding fatherhood and gender roles.

Overall, first-time fathers navigate a continuous tension between adherence to traditional hegemonic masculinity and emerging, more flexible and emotionally engaged forms of masculinity. This negotiation is dynamic, relational, and context-dependent, reflecting both continuity and change in masculine identity.

Conclusions and Implications:
The study highlights fatherhood as a critical site for the reconstruction of masculine identity within changing gender norms. It underscores the importance of conceptualizing masculinity as an ecological and relational process rather than a fixed attribute. Implications for practice include the need for family counselors and social workers to recognize the emotional complexity of this transition and to support men in navigating competing masculine expectations. Such awareness may enhance interventions that promote healthier family relationships and more flexible gender role constructions.

Keywords: fatherhood; masculinity; ecological theory; identity construction; gender transition; first-time fathers.