Abstract
This paper presents a discourse analysis of fathers' accounts of their communication about sexuality with their young sons. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight Australian men who have six-year-old sons. Participants were asked to describe their experiences of and feelings about how they learned about sexuality and how they teach their sons. The transcripts of these interviews were analyzed using the Textually Oriented Discourse Analysis described by Fairclough (1989). Seven key assumptions which underlie the participants' discourse are identified. While these assumptions present significant obstacles for many fathers, several are actively struggling with these dominant ideologies. Sexuality educators may be able to help address this conflict by encouraging fathers to engage in discussion about their fears and beliefs about sexuality education. This research suggests that many fathers need assistance to participate in this task.