Español

Abstract

Social representations are collective constructions that allow individuals to make sense of the reality around them. They are neither static nor immutable; rather, they transform over time, shaped by the cultural, political, and economic changes of each era. Just as the social world is in constant motion, the representations that shape it also adapt, resist, or evolve, influenced by the nuances and tensions of the context in which they emerge. Moscovici (1961) points out that social representations not only organize thought but also prescribe behaviors and attitudes, guiding individuals’ practices within a shared framework of meanings.

Fatherhood does not escape this logic. Social representations of what it means to be a father have undergone multiple transformations throughout history, influenced by models of masculinity, family dynamics, and the dominant social structures of each period. However, this process of change is neither linear nor homogeneous. It manifests in progress and setbacks, in tensions between the old and the new, and in the coexistence of traditional models with emerging ways of practicing fatherhood.

Far from being a universal and homogeneous experience, fatherhood is shaped by specific sociocultural norms that regulate practices and expectations regarding the paternal role. In this sense, it is not only essential to understand how social representations of fatherhood evolve but also to analyze the factors that influence the persistence of certain models and the resistance to incorporating others.

Adolescent fatherhood is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors. This study aimed to analyze how adolescent males construct their social representations of fatherhood in the northern area of the capital city of Salta