Cat dads? Negotiations of fatherhood among Hong Kong returnee fathers

In the last two decades, the young generation of the 1997 era Hong Kong migrants who migrated principally emigrated to US, Australia, Canada, UK and New Zealand have returned to Hong Kong and many have transited to parenthood. The literature suggests exposure to different cultures as a result of migration is one of the key factors affecting diversity in fatherhood among migrants as it changes their family values, roles and practices. We explore how returnee fathers with young children in Hong Kong, who have spent their developmental years abroad in western societies negotiate fatherhood. Our findings reveal that these returnees have a unique construction of fatherhood that involves an integration of cross-cultural fathering roles, values and practices in relation to caregiving, emotional intimacy and breadwinning. Factors including cross-cultural experiences, socio-economic status and spousal dynamics contribute to how they construct and practice their roles and identities as fathers. This paper is part of an on-going qualitative study on “Early Fatherhood among Returnees in Hong Kong: Spousal Relations, Child-rearing and Work”, funded by the Research Grant Council, Hong Kong.