A Conversation for Women

Just because we say fathers matter, doesn’t mean mothers and women matter any less.

Why do women matter in a conversation around the positive presence of fathers? For many reasons. Whether through the way they speak about men and fatherhood, the expectations they set in relationships, or the way they raise sons – women are powerful agents in shifting what fatherhood looks like in our communities.

Women give birth to the boys who become the fathers of tomorrow. Wives and partners shape the extent to which a father is involved in the lives of his children. And grandmas, aunts and mentors speak words over children that shape their future views of fatherhood.

And, as a woman, your own father story – whether your dad was present or absent, caring or hurtful – has huge bearing on the woman, the mother, the friend, the partner or wife you become.

Will you join the Fathers Matter Conversation for Women? Here’s how …

Watch the trailer video

Whether you’re a single mom, supported mom, granny, aunty or mentor, this conversation is for you.

Host a Women’s Conversation Workshop

Our Heartlines Fathers Matter community mobilisation team hosts 2–3 hour workshops for large groups of women. If you have a women’s forum, society or a large group of women, we suggest you start your Fathers Matter Conversation for Women by hosting a workshop.

What the workshop covers

The workshop covers: Why fathers matter, why voices of women matter in this conversation, the key Fathers Matter messages, barriers to father involvement (from a women's perspective), and how to roll out Fathers Matter in your context. It can be conducted online, or in person.

Contact our team to book a Heartlines Fathers Matter facilitator for your group.

Organise a Fathers Matter Film viewing

If you don’t need a workshop, you can launch your Conversation for Women with viewings of one, or a selection of the Heartlines Fathers Matter short films, followed by a discussion afterwards.

Films we recommend for groups of predominantly women: Family Portrait, Melodi, Airwalker and Manskap.

Time needed per film viewing: 1 hour – 1.5 hours (per 30-min film + discussion)

Use the films if you're ready to start the Conversation for Women, and have capacity to show the films. We recommend you start with a film viewing before launching the Connect Group women's course/resource.

Each film has a link to stream/watch the film as well as suggested questions for discussion afterwards.

You can access the Fathers Matter Film Series here.

Run a Women’s Connect Group

Our resource for connect groups, Fathers Matter: A Conversation for Women is a facilitator-led course for small group groups of women. This resource is ideal if you’re ready to have a more in-depth conversation around women and fatherhood, and you have a group where a safe space for vulnerable sharing has been created.

This Fathers Matter Connect Group for Women resource allows small groups of women to engage in a deeper conversation around our own father stories and the role women play in the fathering conversation. It includes four core sessions, and some standalone/ elective sessions. The resource is available for Christian and generic women's small groups.

Get the resource

You can find all the videos for the connect group resources on our YouTube page here.

Start a conversation

We have created a series of discussion starters for you to host in your small group, workplace team, stokvel, sports club or with a group of friends. Each conversation features a short video, with some questions for you to engage in as a group.

Why women matter FM Women Discussion Starter

Discussion Starter: Why do women matter in a conversation on fatherhood?

This discussion starter explores why women matter in a conversation about Fatherhood. It includes a video and some questions to help your small group, team or friends explore this important topic together.

Family Portrait FM Women Discussion Starter

Discussion Starter: Unpacking the film Family Portrait

This discussion starter explores women's different views about fatherhood. It uses the Fathers Matter film Family Portrait and some questions to help your small group, team or friends explore this important topic together.

Let us know how your conversation goes!

We’d love to hear from you regarding your Conversation for Women. If you’ve hosted a film viewing or run a connect group, please let us know about it!

Fill out this short feedback form.

Making of the resource

Get more resources

Are you a mother, granny or caregiver, a daughter or sister, an aunt, a mentor or a friend? This is a resource that invites women to a conversation about the importance of active, present and positive fatherhood.

A Conversation for Christian Women

Are you a mother, granny or caregiver, a daughter or sister, an aunt, a mentor or a friend? This is a resource that invites women to a conversation about the importance of active, present and positive fatherhood.

ECD Toolkit: Written Guide

We developed this toolkit to support ECD practitioners in their essential work investing in the lives and education of children. This resource can help encourage increased father participation in early learning. There are also short animated videos available to go with the guide.

Amplifying children's unfiltered perspectives on fatherhood

This is a powerful report about children’s perspectives on fatherhood in South Africa. It offers unique insights into how children between the ages of 10 and 16 perceive “good” and “bad” fathers and highlights the impact of father absence on youth behaviours and social dynamics.

Films Discussion Guide

This discussion guide can be used to explore the themes of fatherhood in South Africa from the Heartlines Fathers Matter Film Series. Each film is a deeply moving and inspiring drama that explores the complexities of fatherhood in South Africa today, where most children grow up in homes without their biological fathers.

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