Biographical Interviews: ‘Not being a father: the experiences of involuntarily childless men as they age’

Hadley, Robin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4254-7648 (2014) Biographical Interviews: ‘Not being a father: the experiences of involuntarily childless men as they age’. In: PAUUD Research Unit research seminar series 2014, 19 March 2014, The University of Manchester, UK. (Unpublished)

Preview

Presentation Available under License In Copyright. Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

In-depth examination of biographical interviews and the , bio-narrative interview method: BNIM. In-depth biographical interviews were conducted countrywide with 14 men, aged between 49 and 82 years. The thematic analysis showed the complex intersections between men’s experience of involuntary childlessness and agency, structure, and relationships. The findings showed a range of diverse elements that affected the transitions related to ageing and involuntary childlessness: interpersonal skills, partner selection, timing of relationships, social networks, and the assumption of fertility. The importance of relationship quality, and the significance of being partnered, was highlighted in the profile of the social networks. Four of the men negotiated a form of ‘grandfatherhood’ role: Adopted, Latent, Surrogate, and Proxy.