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The movie City Slickers came out 20 years ago. It starred Billy Crystal and tells one of those mid-life-crisis stories of three “city slickers” who see things differently after going on a two-week cattle drive. The movie is remembered for the performance of Jack Palance, winner of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar as the tough cowboy who dispensed life lessons out on the range. While Palance’s performance is certainly memorable, the part of the movie I always think about is a quiet scene when Crystal and his buddies are on horseback and discussing the “best day ever” in their lives. “And you can’t do the day your kids were born, because that’s too easy,” one of the guys says. All three tell stories that involve their fathers. And yet, it was a given that the actual best day of their lives was when they became fathers. I can relate. The gift I give to myself on Father’s Day is remembering how I felt – the exhilarating combination of joy, pride, fear and wonder – the days my two daughters were born. Best. Days. Ever.
Fatherhood is complicated and, as it turns out, a much-researched topic. So for your weekend pleasure, I’ve assembled some great reads from across the global network of The Conversation about fathers of all kind – including those in the animal world.
And speaking of fathers and birthdays, this Friday marks the fourth anniversary of The Conversation Canada. To mark that occasion, I’ve resurfaced an essay about our launch written on that very first day by our co-founders Alfred Hermida and Mary Lynn Young. Also from Day One: a still-relevant article that raised questions about race and racism – a first of many important pieces on the topic
that we’ve published over the last four years.
Have a great weekend. Be nice to your Dad. We’ll be back in your Inbox on Monday.
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Father's Day Weekend Reads
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Jessica Ball, University of Victoria; Jessica Pratezina, University of Victoria
Despite the disproportionate burden mothers have faced during lockdown, encouraging parents to share child care and housework more equally is almost never suggested as part of the solution.
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Audrey-Ann Deneault, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Developmental psychology has uncovered some lesser-known, yet important ways that fathers improve their children’s lives.
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Chris Lamb, IUPUI
Biden’s relationship with his father contrasts with perhaps every president in the last four decades, who either had absent or distant fathers or abusive or alcoholic fathers or stepfathers.
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Joel Christensen, Brandeis University
On Father's Day, a scholar of ancient Greek poetry explains how he came to understand the father-son relationship and his journey of loss and yearning through reading the epics.
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Nikki Martyn, University of Guelph-Humber; Elena Merenda, University of Guelph-Humber
Our children can't continue to grow up in a world where only women raise them, either at home or in early care and learning.
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Adam Davies, University of Toronto
What does it mean to be a good father to your son? Drop the traditionally masculine roles and embrace your emotions.
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Kevin Shafer, Brigham Young University
Fathers whose own dads were highly nurturing tend to have healthier levels of competition and be more emotionally open.
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James Gilbert, University of Hull
Why human fathers are worth celebrating.
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Sarita Srivastava, Queen's University, Ontario
When philosopher Rebecca Tuvel asked if racial identity could be as fluid as gender, she unleashed a storm of controversy and anger. Instead of shutting her down, we should listen and debate.
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Mary Lynn Young, University of British Columbia; Alfred Hermida, University of British Columbia
Co-founders Mary Lynn Young and Alfred Hermida explain how The Conversation Canada contributes to re-working what journalism can and should do.
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Jair Bolsonaro’s administration is profoundly militarised.
Salty View/Shutterstock
Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation
Plus, what the study of 700-year old garbage is revealing about who lived in Islamic Andalusia. Listen to episode 20 of The Conversation Weekly.
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