Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigenetics
This study investigates prospective fathers’ reaction to epigenetics and its implications for heredity. Mounting scientific evidence that epigenetic changes transmit through fathers, not just mothers, makes it important to learn how men regard their inheritance conceptually and its relevance for the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | New Genetics and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14636778.2024.2332306 |
| _version_ | 1797224845276086272 |
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| author | Matthew Kearney |
| author_facet | Matthew Kearney |
| author_sort | Matthew Kearney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates prospective fathers’ reaction to epigenetics and its implications for heredity. Mounting scientific evidence that epigenetic changes transmit through fathers, not just mothers, makes it important to learn how men regard their inheritance conceptually and its relevance for their behavior. This study features in-depth interviews with 31 prospective fathers in Canada. About one-third of respondents had heard of epigenetics, but only one had substantial knowledge. After a non-technical explanation, virtually all found epigenetics plausible, though to varying degrees and with varying mental models of how epigenetic inheritance would work. Nearly all expressed a strong desire to follow whatever behaviors would improve the health of their future children, even lifestyle changes, thus re-aligning responsible fatherhood with new scientific findings. This demonstrates the new concept of genetic subjectivity: socially conditioned attitudes and normative agency based on genetic science. Implications for the ontology of gendered inheritance and social relations are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:59:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f98678c7f03042eba664593cedb13c9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1463-6778 1469-9915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:59:35Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Genetics and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-f98678c7f03042eba664593cedb13c9a2024-04-03T13:51:13ZengTaylor & Francis GroupNew Genetics and Society1463-67781469-99152024-12-0143110.1080/14636778.2024.2332306Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigeneticsMatthew Kearney0Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKThis study investigates prospective fathers’ reaction to epigenetics and its implications for heredity. Mounting scientific evidence that epigenetic changes transmit through fathers, not just mothers, makes it important to learn how men regard their inheritance conceptually and its relevance for their behavior. This study features in-depth interviews with 31 prospective fathers in Canada. About one-third of respondents had heard of epigenetics, but only one had substantial knowledge. After a non-technical explanation, virtually all found epigenetics plausible, though to varying degrees and with varying mental models of how epigenetic inheritance would work. Nearly all expressed a strong desire to follow whatever behaviors would improve the health of their future children, even lifestyle changes, thus re-aligning responsible fatherhood with new scientific findings. This demonstrates the new concept of genetic subjectivity: socially conditioned attitudes and normative agency based on genetic science. Implications for the ontology of gendered inheritance and social relations are discussed.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14636778.2024.2332306s: epigeneticsinheritanceinterviewsmedical sociologyreproductive health |
| spellingShingle | Matthew Kearney Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigenetics New Genetics and Society s: epigenetics inheritance interviews medical sociology reproductive health |
| title | Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigenetics |
| title_full | Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigenetics |
| title_fullStr | Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigenetics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigenetics |
| title_short | Genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers: men’s attitudes toward epigenetics |
| title_sort | genetic subjectivities of prospective fathers men s attitudes toward epigenetics |
| topic | s: epigenetics inheritance interviews medical sociology reproductive health |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14636778.2024.2332306 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matthewkearney geneticsubjectivitiesofprospectivefathersmensattitudestowardepigenetics |