| In this paper I report on an investigation of discoursal asymmetry in parentcraft texts, in terms of the ways in which the father is represented and backgrounded. In particular, I suggest that it is possible to see one dominant, overarching discourse: 'Part-time father/mother as main parent?. This dominant discourse can be seen as being 'shored up' (as well as, to an extent, challenged) by other, usually complementary, discourses: 'father as baby entertainer', 'father as mother's bumbling assistant', 'father as line manager', 'mother as manager of the father?s role in childcare', and 'mother as wife/partner'. These discourses are characterized by recurring and nonrecurring linguistic presences ? and, importantly, absences (Van Leeuwen, 1995, 1996). Looking in particular at the following linguistic items from three different semantic fields ? mother/father/wife/husband/patner; play/fun/help; and share ? I illustrate how different discourses, with their salient linguistic presences and absences, can organize a text in supporting and potentially destabilizing ways. |