The essay "Fatherhood in the Twenty-First Century" by Natasha J. Cabrera, Catherine S. Tamis-LeMonda, Robert H. Bradley, Sandra Hofferth, and Michael E. Lamb discusses the significant social trends that have transformed the context of child development in the United States over the past century, including increased female labor force participation, father absence, increased father involvement in intact families, and cultural diversity. These trends have altered the nature of father involvement and family life, affecting children's and fathers' developmental trajectories. The authors emphasize the need to consider mothers, fathers, and family structure in future research to understand and model the effects of parenting on children's development. They also explore how children today will construct their expectations about parental roles as they become parents themselves, highlighting the importance of a life-span approach to fatherhood. The essay concludes by discussing the implications of these changes for family structures, policies, and practices in the twenty-first century.The essay "Fatherhood in the Twenty-First Century" by Natasha J. Cabrera, Catherine S. Tamis-LeMonda, Robert H. Bradley, Sandra Hofferth, and Michael E. Lamb discusses the significant social trends that have transformed the context of child development in the United States over the past century, including increased female labor force participation, father absence, increased father involvement in intact families, and cultural diversity. These trends have altered the nature of father involvement and family life, affecting children's and fathers' developmental trajectories. The authors emphasize the need to consider mothers, fathers, and family structure in future research to understand and model the effects of parenting on children's development. They also explore how children today will construct their expectations about parental roles as they become parents themselves, highlighting the importance of a life-span approach to fatherhood. The essay concludes by discussing the implications of these changes for family structures, policies, and practices in the twenty-first century.