On patriarchs and other kinds of fathers

Men living in families after divorce and separation

Abstract

The article formulates descriptive and explanatory hypotheses about the dynamic and interactive process of fatherwork in first families and remarriage families, particularly after transitions caused by separation, divorce, further births, ehe rebuil- ding of relations and families. In contrast to the majority of older sociological and psychological works on so called »step-families« which described them as deficient, deviant or pathogenic, the author stresses competent and successful communication as well as conflicts and difficulties. Presenting a single case study he argues that fatherwork can get more conscious, active and flexible within remarriage families and the so called »binuclear family system«, i.e. the social system created by dense communication and interaction of two remarriage families of former spouses or partners.