Working Fathers Mini-series. Ep 2 - What Gave Rise to the Breadwinner?

We are pleased to bring you a special five episode podcast series Working Fathers created by Professor in HPS Cordelia Fine, political philosopher Associate Professor Dan Halliday, social psychologist, Dr Melissa Wheeler and historian Dr Annabelle Baldwin.

How people divide labour within and beyond the family unit has changed throughout human history. The current model in many Western nations, including Australia, is a version of the 'breadwinner model', where one parent is designated the primary earner and the other the primary carer. But where did this model come from? And why is it so entrenched?

In this episode, What Gave Rise to the Breadwinner? we dive into the complex social, cultural, political, and economic forces shaping fatherhood, the historical notion of the male breadwinner, and consider where policy might fit in.

Special Guests:

• Dr Kate Murphy, Senior Lecturer at Monash University. Kate is currently researching the history of fatherhood in 20thC Australia as part of the ARC funded project Fatherhood: An Australian History 1919–2019, with Mike Roper, John Murphy, Alistair Thomson, Johnny Bell and Jill Barnard.
• Dr Carla Pascoe Leahy, Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Lecturer in Family History at the University of Tasmania.
• Associate Professor Lee T Gettler, Director of the Hormones, Health, and Human Behavior Laboratory at Notre Dame University, faculty affiliate of the Eck Institute for Global Health. 

A full transcript for the episode can be found here: https://www.hpsunimelb.org/post/working-fathers-mini-series-ep2-what-gave-rise-to-the-breadwinner

The Working Fathers Podcast was funded by the Faculty of Arts and the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. The creators of the podcast are also very grateful for the support of external partners, the Women’s Leadership Institute of Australia and the

Thanks for listening to The HPS Podcast with current producers, Samara Greenwood and Carmelina Contarino. You can find more about us on our blog, website, bluesky, twitter, instagram and facebook feeds. Music by ComaStudio.

This podcast would not be possible without the support of School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne.

HPS Podcast | hpsunimelb.org