Hidden Fathers? The significance of fatherhood in mid-twentieth-century Britain

This article argues that fatherhood was invested with a greater significance in mid-twentieth-century Britain than has previously been recognised. It assesses the current historiographical focus on motherhood, marriage and the home, suggesting that fathers have been lost in these debates. Evidence from the press and social research is used to investigate the ‘intensification’ of fatherhood alongside motherhood in this period. The article examines the trend towards a more directly normative line in the press, and the new focus on the family in academic literature, as well as highlighting the increased investment in the father–child relationship.