Our Fathers, Talking about Fatherhood

Nº94 FEBRUARY 2026

One is born every time a child is born, but how are they made and what are fathers for? To exercise patriarchal authority that is distant and authoritarian or to be an active friend and partner? Did you know that the belief that many fathers-to-be go through body and brain changes during pregnancy has been proven scientifically?

Using dozens of personal accounts, this book presents a mosaic of reflections on the expectations, challenges and rewards of contemporary fatherhood in Portugal, at all ages. It looks at models of masculinity, strength, vulnerability and the mental health of fathers and puts the importance of their presence into context. This is a starting point for understanding the complexity of becoming a father and the revelation that it is.