‘The Cultural Nexus of Aka Father-Infant Bonding,’ by Barry S. Hewlett, is a case study on the practices of the Aka hunter-gatherers of Central Africa and Northern Congo. Hewlett draws on observations to show that Aka fathers are more involved, more of the time with infants, compared to fathers in American society (in the 1980s). Hewlett’s evidence shows that Aka fathers “are within an arm’s reach of their infant more than 50 percent of 24-hour periods” allowing infant-bonding to take place through “regular and intimate (i.e., hugging, kissing, soothing) care.” In contrast, white American fathers, who are generally absent in order to provide for their families, engage in infant-bonding through “vigorous play.” (Hewlett)

“Aka fathers are very close and affectionate with their infants, and their attachment processes, as defined in Western bonding theory, appear to be similar to that of mothers.” Western bonding theory or Attachment Theory states that “a strong emotional and physical attachment to at least one primary caregiver is critical to personal development (for infants).”

“Parents’ and other caregivers’ engagement in caregiving…is critical for infants’ developing attachment, communication, and social cognition. Thus, infancy is a time in which fathers might uniquely influence their children’s rapidly developing social, cognitive, and language skills, influences that last beyond the earliest years.” (Cabrera, et al. 2011)

A 2011 study on ‘Patterns and Predictors of Father-Infant Engagement Across Race/Ethnic Groups’, showed that (in America) “minority fathers engage in care-giving activities with higher frequencies than white fathers.” (Cabrera, et al. 2011) This research would serve to complement the findings of the Aka case study, proving that fatherhood is cultural, rather than biological.

In North America, the discrepancy between mother-infant bonding versus father-infant bonding can be viewed as an extension of the Ethno- and Eurocentric constructs of gender norms and ideals in society, and the division of labour among the sexes. Men (particularly in white North American culture) are lead to believe that child-rearing is “woman’s work”, therefore, any excess time spent care-giving for an infant (past assumed necessity) is correlated to the feminine, and can result in emasculation and or hazing in homosocial networks. This is particularly true in cases where a child’s father takes paternity leave, allowing the child’s mother to re-enter the work force during a child’s infancy.

Hewlett explains that one reason for the shared division of infant-care among the Aka is due to the Aka’s gender egalitarian society: “Men do not have physical or institutional control over women, violence against women is rare or nonexistent, both women and men are valued for their different but complementary roles, there is femininity in these gender roles, and holding infants is not perceived as being feminine or “women’s work.” This is in contrast to the rigid (although shifting) gender roles present in white North American culture.

The Aka fathers case study, as well as the study comparing African-American, Latino, and white fathers within the United States, prove that definitions of fatherhood are culturally-derived and tied to the gender hierarchies within a given society or culture.

It is important to note the modern shift away from the rigid American-family model of “mother as primary nurturer/caregiver” and “father as distant financial provider.” A recent study would show that, “70% of men surveyed claimed that financial security ranked behind greater involvement with their children and the provision of love and emotional support in their order of preferences.”

Let’s hope this means that American fathers will also shift away from engaging in “rough play” with babies…