I’ve heard some of my African American male clients – mostly new dads – say some version of the statement in the title of this piece and it really doesn’t get any easier to hear. When you tease out the multiple contributions of masculinity, salience of the role of fatherhood, African American cultural norms, and the systemic implications of health disparities and racism, it paints a pretty troubling picture to be honest. which requires a larger canvas. Every year, we celebrate International Father’s Mental Health Day the day after Father’s Day to bring more attention to the unique mental health issues and difficulties that many fathers experience as they transition to parenthood. This year, IFMHD coincides with Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States in June 2021. I am originally from Texas and so I grew up with the history and culture of Texas including recognizing Juneteenth to honor When declared by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19th, 1865, freedom for slaves in Texas. I’ve always thought of Juneteenth as a “Texas thing,” and I was happy – and frankly a little surprised – when this day was recognized nationally a few years ago in the context of greater awareness of systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter movement. So this year I thought it would be good to pay attention to the areas of Black masculinities and early fatherhood as a way to honor these fathers in the context of their ethnicity and gender identity.
Masculinity is commonly seen as a set of socially constructed practices that maintain power and control, confer status, and limit the display of vulnerability (Hammond, Fleming & Villa-Torres, 2016) – and many years of research support that men from marginalized groups are often denied access to the institutions and power that other men have over them (Courtenay, 2000). A well-known theory called “Precarious masculinity” (Vandello & Bosson, 2013) essentially believes that masculinity is fragile, built only through the enactment of traditional male behaviors in public, and easily lost. say, “you are as big as the last man. thing you did.” Framing these factors in the context of contemporary fatherhood brings to light an important disconnect: By asking fathers to be more involved in the perinatal period, we are telling them to engage in behaviors – think baby wearing, dressing, changing diapers, giving bottles, staying home to care for a newborn – which we have traditionally feminized as a society. One of the resulting mental health dynamics is called gender role strain, and it usually means the discomfort one feels when we engage in behaviors that are inconsistent with traditional role norms. gender in our own culture. Taken together, being a member of a marginalized group, having an easily intimidated sense of masculinity, and feeling the need to take on a “dad 2.0” role involves stepping out of the male box during stress of the perinatal period. for Black dads at high risk for depression, anxiety, substance issues, and relationship problems. Part of the problem is that as a society, we’re not used to thinking about fathers — or men in general — as a group that needs support. We learn that “protect, provide, and sacrifice” is the father’s mission, and so many clinicians, birth educators, and parenting support professionals tell fathers to “be the rock” without even telling them to they will need their own support. That needs to change.
The title of this piece captures a common sentiment among Black Americans, which is a traditional sense that “we have to do it twice as well as the next guy because we have something to prove” in a systemic context. racism. So being twice as good as the next dad doesn’t involve being depressed – until it is. One in ten fathers develop postpartum depression, and nearly 20% develop anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, specific phobias, or acute stress disorder. I am not aware of any research that has produced solid data on the prevalence of paternal postpartum depression by ethnicity in the United States (or any other country), but research and anecdotal information suggest that African American fathers are not exempt from this. experience.
A related factor comes from so-called intergenerational (or transgenerational) trauma, which typically reflects a person’s experience of trauma associated with being a member of a traditionally marginalized group. This experience is relatable to new/expecting Black fathers as they know they are bringing a new little Black baby into the world who they cannot help but experience racism and oppression. So much for protecting and giving – but as is often the case with trauma-based work, many men struggle to find the words to describe the particular pain or discomfort they are experiencing. For that reason, the most common starting point for working with these African American fathers involves helping to tease out their unique experiences and sensitivities so they can express what they’re going through to the people who really need to hear it. This, of course, violates traditional male norms and so finding people with whom he can be vulnerable is another important part of the puzzle. So to all the partners, parents, friends, and loved ones out there – if a dad is at risk of telling you about feeling sad, lonely, inadequate, etc. just ask him questions to help him say that you want to know more. You are now on the Postpartum Support International website, so you may already know about our resources for fathers. You just listen and confirm that yes, indeed, he can be depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, sad, etc. may be the most important way you can help him feel seen and on the path back to being well.
This year, PSI’s Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color (PMHA-POC). is hosting a panel of experts on mental health, parent support, Black masculinities, and fatherhood on June 19th at 11am pacific/ 2pm eastern and you are definitely invited to come check it out!
For more information on International Father’s Mental Health Day, see our page on the PSI site.
Dr. Dan Singley is a board certified psychologist at Center for Men’s Excellenceco-author of Parental Mental Health: Factoring in Fathersand a PSI Facilitator for “Chat with Dads and Experts” held on the first Monday of each month.
Sources
Courtenay, WH (2000). Health promotion: A social constructionist analysis of men’s health beliefs and behaviors. Psychology of men and masculinity, 1(1), 4.
Hammond, WP, Fleming, PJ, and Villa-Torres, L. (2016). Everyday racism as a threat to the masculine social self: Framing investigations of African American men’s health disparities. In APA handbook of men and masculinity. (pp. 259-283). American Psychological Association.
Vandello, JA, & Bosson, JK (2013). Hard won and easy losers: A review and synthesis of theory and research on precarious masculinity. Psychology of men and masculinity, 14(2), 101.
