• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.87-99
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• 2007

Using ethnographic methods, this study identifies the meaning of paternal experiences through a series of individual one to two hour interviews with men who have grandchildren. The interviewees consisted of twelve fathers from fifty to seventy years of age and the middle SES class. The results were as follows. First, adult-children-marriage and parent transitions were found to be important changes for men on their father's perception of their role as a father. Second, fathers with grandchildren felt happiness due to their grandchildren and held grandchildren as being important. Third, protecting and supporting their families was the main focus of paternity. Forth, the period of paternal experiences with grandchildren can be called "the stage of strong grandfather identity" because men who have grandchildren put more importance in the relationship with grandchildren than do their own adult-children, and grandchildren themselves play an important role in establishing male identity.