Images of men in childcare magazines: stimulus to paternity?

Abstract

Objective: Identify images of male human beings at childcare magazines and analyze the models of behavior and sociability showed.

Methods: In this is an exploratory and descriptive research, we analyzed a magazine entitled Crescer, a monthly publication with the largest circulation in Brazil. We analyzed images of adult men, in the period of one year, from August 2012 to July 2013. The images were analyzed using Epi Info software, version 3.5.2, 2010. Using the same program, data were crossed in tables which were compared with the present literature on the subject.

Results: 1,613 photos of human beings were identified, of which only 217 (13.45%) had images of adult men. Not all images were produced by the magazine. 217 photos of men were found, of which 28.2% were advertisements or pictures sent by readers; therefore, editorial team did not produce them. In most cases (51.6 %), men were alone. When there were children, the photos showed families (10.6%), situations of affection (10.1%) or play (7.4%).

The low occurrence of men in situations of intensive care and their presence as a columnist (35.9 %) reveal that the magazine emphasizes the role of men as an expert, but not as a father.

Conclusions: We emphasize the importance of showing other images which enhance the care and emotional bond between men and children, given the positive outcomes of such care.