Homens e cuidado infantil: estudo de casos em Salvador, Bahia

Abstract

This article focuses on the male particitation in child care, among men from different socioeconomic sectors, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, who have consanguineous or considerate ties with little children. It critically dialogues with research on paternity and paternal involvement; includes a theoretical discussion on gender and care and argues that it is necessary to expand the reflection considering the diversity of family and socioeconomic realities. A qualitative study was carried out, involving the conduct of narrative interviews with five men - who have daily relationships and contacts with little children - analyzed through the thematic content analysis technique. The results indicate that male participation in the daily care of children - including contact with health services - occurs as “help” and, predominantly, in times when there are no other people available to produce care. In families having a female domestic worker masculine participation in child care tends to be lower. This evidences the reproduction of conventional gender roles and permanence of the sexual division of labor. In parallel, the participants have an affective bond with the child and participate in child care as a process of social construction of the person. Keywords