Data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and the Survey of Income and Program Participation are presented in this chapter to describe the demographic, family, and socioeconomic characteristics of fathers residing with children. The racial and ethnic diversity of co-resident fathers, the number of dependent children, the marital status of the father, educational attainment, labor force participation, and poverty are addressed. Differences between fathers living with biological children, stepchildren, and both biological and stepchildren are highlighted. Most of the data are…
This chapter analyzes statistical data from the 1997 Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males (third wave), the 1998 Trends in Time Use Study, and the 1999 National Omnibus Study to explore how fathers are involved in the lives of their children. The review focuses on the amount of time that fathers spend with their children, the quality of their involvement, and the types of activities in which they participate. Results are presented for all fathers, fathers of biological children, fathers of stepchildren, and men living…
Qualitative research has provided valuable insights into the relationships between low income, urban, African American men and their children. This chapter summarizes findings from classic and recent studies about the impact of neighborhood characteristics, negotiations between fathers and mothers and their extended families, the social construct of fathers and mothers, and the variety of father figures who take responsibility for paternal tasks. Conducted by researchers in the fields of anthropology, education, human development, and sociology, the studies used techniques such as open-ended…
This chapter utilizes an anthropological perspective to explore the influence of cultural values on expectations for fatherhood. The analysis compares the experiences of fathers in California with fathers in Botswana, which has a high incidence of female-headed households and births to nonmarried parents. Patterns of cultural expectations and perceptions are highlighted. In the United States, society still considers the father to be the primary financial provider and the mother to be the primary homemaker, despite criticisms that the model is outdated and irrelevant to people of different…
English speaking Caribbean men's relationships with their children are affected by a variety of factors that distinguish them from fathers in other countries, such as the complexity of mating and marital unions, cultural values regarding manhood and fatherhood, parenting knowledge, economics, and migration patterns. In low-income Caribbean families, mating and marital unions occur with different levels of commitment, from visiting or friending relationships, in which men and women meet for sexual and social contact, to common-law relationships, marital unions, and single parents.…
Data from 13 national surveys were compiled for this report about parental attitudes and behaviors, family formation, and fertility. Indicators address beliefs about the importance of becoming a parent and the value of children, attitudes toward spanking, conflict resolution, warmth and conflict between parents and children, time spent with children, and participation in school activities. Child custody arrangements, marriage and divorce, cohabitation, and parental sexual history also are examined. The analysis can be used to support policy and practice decisions about mothers and fathers.…
