The forgotten parent: a qualitative study of indigenous Guatemalan fathers' perspectives on atypical child development

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the role Latino fathers have in rearing children with atypical development. Despite the positive effects of father involvement being well studied in other populations, Latino fathers have been historically overlooked in family research. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of indigenous Guatemalan fathers of children with atypical development, particularly their understanding of their child's needs and their role in addressing those needs. Methods: Using Kleinman's semi-structured Explanatory Model (EM) questions, I interviewed self-identified parents of children with atypical development to investigate their perceptions of their child's development and also their role in child rearing. Interviews also included questions about gender roles in child rearing and a brief demographic survey. Participant families were recruited from rural communities in the Department of Sololá, Guatemala. Interviews were analysed using ethnographic methods. Findings: Between Nov 2 and Nov 10, 2018, 24 mother-father pairs were interviewed in 48 interviews. The results of the interviews indicated that, despite a rigid view of each parent's responsibilities (father as the breadwinner and mother as the caretaker), parents would abandon traditional familial gender roles if it were in the best interest of their child. Further, designated familial gender roles did not predetermine the types of concern parents experienced about their child with atypical development. For example, although a Guatemalan father may believe his main familial responsibility is to meet the financial needs of his family, his main paternal concerns may not only be financial in nature. Interpretation: At a functional level, Guatemalan families will adapt their parenting roles and responsibilities for the benefit their children with atypical development. These findings act as an opposing perspective to other published work on machismo, a concept often used to describe the Hispanic male-female hierarchy. These results suggest that the concept of machismo may be a western concept that is far too generalising for the indigenous couple rearing a child with atypical development. As such, Latino men remain an understudied and potentially underutilised member of the family, especially in high-stress homes where a child with atypical development is being cared for. Ways to increase their involvement in child rearing should be considered by researchers and policy makers. Funding: College of Latin American Studies pre-dissertation field research grant.