Ways to Engage Males in Child Development
Cameron Curtis, B.S., Shabaz Brown, M.S., & Ashley Cunningham, M.S.
Introduction
What are the societal constructs that create barriers
which impact the African American male
involvement within the field of child development?
Purpose
1. To diminish stereotypes about the male capacity
2. To promote and establish healthy child
development across all developmental domains
3. To discuss how to recruit men into this field by
reinforcing the need and conceptualizing societal
barriers’ effects on men
Significance
Fatherhood increased the responsibility for new
fathers to find stable, secure employment.
Fatherhood within marriage was also associated with
a strengthening of family ties, an increased
participation in civic organizations and more
involvement in organized religion. Residential and
married fathers who were involved were found to be
healthier than other men and had better longevity
because of the reduction in risky behaviors (Astone
& Peters, 2014).
Using the data from the Fragile Families and
Child Wellbeing Study, researchers found that
children of incarcerated fathers show more
aggressive and inattentive behaviors than children of
absent fathers who are not incarcerated. The
researchers concluded that more support services
need to be provided to the children of incarcerated
fathers. (Cooper, Garfinkel, Schwartz-Soicher, &
Mincy, 2011).
Taken together, male- involvement in child care
and child care services whether it’s family or
professional, plays a key role in the influence of
child development.
Future Directions and
Connecting Frameworks
Implications
Social Cognitive Theory ties to one’s behavior,
There are multiple potential solutions explored to
environmental aspects, and personal characteristics
breaking down these negative barriers. Each of these
reciprocally work together to influence their are interrelated and should continue throughout the
developmental outcomes (Font, Garay, & Jones, 2016). lifespan.
Regarding the topic at hand, African American males’
Social
ideologies, actions, and gender and racial identity are
Cognitive Developing
greatly influenced by the social contexts of their more male-
Theory centered
programs
environments (Mitchell & Shillingford, 2017).
Life Course Perspective Theory implies that racism
can impact an individual’s trajectory as it relates to asset- Recruiting
males into
building (e.g., education) or underprivileged circumstances
child
development
(e.g., prison) (Gee, Walsemann, & Brondolo, 2012). This Life Course
Attachment
Perspective Combating toxic
can impact time spent to dedicate to building a future and Theory
Theory
masculinity and
hypermasculinity
access to resources, that overall affect life expectancy and
various outcomes across the life course and can have a
generational influence.
Additionally, Attachment Theory ties into the Organizations
importance of black males having a secure attachment to
Local, State, and National
their fathers. These frameworks connect to influence the ● For Oak Cliff
outlook of Black male engagement in child care ● Univserity of North Texas Male
engagement. Summit (K-12 students & college
students)
● My Brother’s Keeper
Resources ● The Campain for Black Male
Achievement
According to Bodovski, Farkas, and Cheadle (2008), working-class parents participate in an
● BMe
‘‘accomplishment of natural growth’’ method of parenting, this encourages children to grow up in a
unstructured style and allows schools the sole accountability for increasing children’s cognitive ability. References
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