Understanding fathers engagement: Contextual insights from Tajikistan and Azerbaijan

Research on parental engagement often portrays fathers as less involved in their children's lives compared to mothers. This paper challenges such a perspective by examining fathers' engagement within the socio-cultural contexts of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. We explore how fathers contribute to their children's everyday lives, using two complementary studies, one in rural Wakhan, Tajikistan, and one in urban Baku, Azerbaijan involving a total of ten families. Our analysis draws on qualitative data from fieldwork, visual participatory methods, and interviews with mothers and fathers. The findings reveal three culturally embedded forms of fathers' engagement: (1) engaging beyond physical care, (2) creating spontaneous learning moments within daily activities, and (3) facilitating educational opportunities through fulfilling culturally assigned roles as family providers. In light of these findings, we call for broadening the conceptualisation of fathers' engagement through a culturally responsive lens, urging researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to recognise and address fathers' role within sociocultural frameworks that acknowledge and respect their diverse situations and contexts.