Fathers of children with a chronic health condition - Beyond gender stereotypes

Parenting a child with a chronic health condition is an experience that serves as a catalyst for meaningful involvement for many fathers. In responding to their children's needs, fathers' masculine identity becomes visible in the ways that they choose to parent. This article reports on a grounded-theory study that examined fathers' gender identity and the way they interpreted their role as a father. While endorsing some essential male and female gender characteristics, results indicate that fathers transcend traditional male stereotypes and embrace the opportunity for a more intimate and involved style of parenting.