Abstract:
This thesis explores the changes that are taking place in modern family structures after women
entered the labor market and the rise of feminist voices, with a particular emphasis on the
changing responsibilities that fathers play in the context of reproductive labor in urban areas in
Lebanon. The objective of this study is to offer a discussion of the factors influencing the
reinterpretation of fatherhood by investigating cultural transformations, and the effects of
changing gender roles. The traditional limits defining men's engagement in caregiving and
domestic responsibilities are evolving due to significant in societal, economic, and cultural
changes. This study employed a qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews with
couples, each partner independently, to examine the various aspects that impact the evolving
context of fathers' roles in reproductive labor. Using thematic analysis, six themes emerged,
centering around 1) Transformed Perceptions about Father’s Duties, 2) Normalizing the
Availability of Fathers Through Reproductive Labor, 3) From Binary Gender Roles to
Partnership Relationship, 4) The Impact of Economic Needs and Women’s Work on Fathers’
Roles, 5) Increase in Women’s Fight for Their Rights, 6) The Impact of Father’s Involvement in
Reproductive Labor on Family and Child Development. The findings contribute to a broader
discourse on gender equality and family studies, offering insights into how contemporary fathers
navigate and negotiate their roles in the complicated web of reproductive labor.
