Galántai, J. (2026). The construction of blended masculinity and gender norm bias of stay-at-home fathers in Hungary. Community, Work & Family, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2026.2655375 (Q1)

 

ABSTRACT

Fathers’ involvement in childcare has increased in recent decades. This study investigates the macro- and micro-level circumstances of relationships that divide childcare duties and parental leave in a society with rather traditional gender norms in Hungary. It involves twenty qualitative interviews with stay-at-home fathers. The interviews showed that cooperative behaviour at the relationship level resulted in more balanced relationships. Couples’ behaviour was motivated by cooperative intentions in line with egalitarian norms, which led to positive partnership outcomes. However, stay-at-home fathers felt internally conflicted about leaving the breadwinner role behind because of prevailing gender norms. Therefore, Hungarian stay-at-home fathers seem to differ from the Scandinavian type of involved fathers, as their choice is not primarily to foster gender equality but rather to act in a child-centred way. This attitude might correspond to a traditional family-centered view, and to a type of caring masculinity, namely blended masculinity.