Introduction

This chapter explores historical debates. An extensive literature exists outlining serious theoretical and methodological debates and disagreements. A ‘bottom-up’ perspective from a variety of sources has sought to point out the exclusions of the ‘great White men’ view of history, which are so often dominant. Poststructuralists such as Scott (1992) have questioned whether there are transparent stories from those previously excluded, which are awaiting excavation and, indeed, whether concepts developed in one era can be employed to understand behaviours in previous times. The role and subjectivity of the historian himself/herself has been highlighted. The use of history as a political tool to inspire, demonise or impose a particular political project has been the subject of ongoing debate.

It is worth noting the considerable methodological problems in doing historical work. It is not just about what is available, but also what weight should be given to different types of evidence. Coltrane and Parke (1998) argue that the historical documents relied upon are often self-reports from those who were literate. This runs the danger of being accounts of ideals rather than actual practices. They note Elder's (1978) arguments about the blurring of the actual–ideal distinction as a result of the use of literary sources from particular sections of the population and documentary sources representing ideals that have been mistakenly assumed to represent actual practices. However, this actual–ideal distinction may be an unhelpful one. Ideals and, indeed, the advice of experts tell us of the discourses that circulated, which is useful. Legal judgements and their study can be of great value in identifying key discourses, as we will see further on in this chapter.

There are important political questions that need to be continually addressed about the function of accounts from whatever source (see Burgess, 1997). What version of fatherhood is being performed, enacted or constructed into being and why taps into issues of power rather than questions of truth.

This chapter outlines debates about images, roles and responsibilities in previous times and the making of the ‘modern’ father, particularly though not exclusively through the law.

Images, roles, responsibilities

Coltrane and Parke (1998: 11-13), writing from an American perspective, suggest the following difficulties in relation to the available literature. First, they argue that it is incomplete. Men's lives have often been the sole subject of historical research.