Paternity and Fatherhood: Myths and Realities

Paternity and fatherhood: is there more than an etymological difference between these two apparently synonymous terms? What do we understand by 'paternity' and 'fatherhood'? These crucial questions lie at the heart of this collection of essays selected from the fields of the humanities and social sciences. As an anthropological document, this book offers compelling evidence to support the premise that there is a profound difference between the biological reality of paternity and the cultural construct of fatherhood. At the same time, the theories of Freud and Lacan provide a background for many of the authors' critical explorations of a kaleidoscope of literary texts, legal documents, case histories, painting and letters. Through their discussion of the relations, attitudes, emotions and values generated by the paternity/fatherhood distinction, the essays in this collection broaden our understanding of how the dichotomy has evolved in Western societies and offer insights into its manifestations in some post-colonial cultures.