Among the ideas of how a father should be, two guiding role models can be discovered: on the one hand, that of the “breadwinner of the family”, who takes responsibility for earning the household income and leaves the family work to the mother. This guiding role model is relevant at the social level: as an idea of what others think. Secondly, the role model of the “active father” can be identified, who reduces his gainful employment and actively participates in bringing up children. This is dominant in regard to personal role models. In addition, there is a relevant group that has assimilated both role models and is oriented towards reconciling work and family life. Irrespective of similar scales throughout society, particular father models are gradually more prevalent in certain parts of society. The model of the “active father” is particularly common in East Germany, in academic surroundings and among the non-confessionals; that of the “breadwinner of the family” is characteristic of women, the less educated, Protestants and religious people. The compatibility-oriented model is typical for men, the low-educated and Catholics. Basically, the model of the “active father” is associated with childless women and the compatibility-oriented model with childless men, who thus tend to overtax themselves. These characteristics hardly apply to fathers and mothers, so that a disillusion in the course of the formation of a family can be expected.