Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- one Introduction
- two The contemporary context
- three The historical context
- four Freud and his legacy
- five Psychological perspectives
- six Sociological perspectives
- seven The politics of fatherhood: contemporary developments
- eight Contemporary social policies
- nine Working with fathers
- ten Reflections on a decade of working with fathers
- eleven Concluding remarks
- References
- Index
one - Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 January 2022
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- one Introduction
- two The contemporary context
- three The historical context
- four Freud and his legacy
- five Psychological perspectives
- six Sociological perspectives
- seven The politics of fatherhood: contemporary developments
- eight Contemporary social policies
- nine Working with fathers
- ten Reflections on a decade of working with fathers
- eleven Concluding remarks
- References
- Index
Summary
There has been increasing interest in fathers, fathering and fatherhood from a diverse range of constituencies in the last decades in the UK. Research has blossomed, successive governments have legislated and, particularly since 1997, child welfare services have been faced with new demands to engage fathers or develop father-inclusive services.
This book emerges from work by the author, as a researcher and educator since 1999, on the issues posed by this agenda for child welfare practitioners in a variety of contexts (Sure Start, the voluntary sector and social work/social care). It is hoped that, by locating fathers, fatherhood and fathering within a historical and social landscape, the book can open up issues seldom addressed in practice settings. Furthermore, while it emerges from a particular research and education background, its concern to offer practitioners the opportunity to explore theoretical, research and policy debates should ensure that it is of interest to those studying and researching fathers and families today.
This introduction offers some preliminary observations on the practice and policy context and sketches out the key elements of the feminist perspective informing the book. However, first, it is important to signpost features of the contemporary landscape in which men father (these are dealt with at length in Chapter Two). Morgan (2002) suggests the addition of the word ‘fathering’ to the terms ‘fathers’ and ‘fatherhood’ in recognition of the current plurality of practices. Technological developments alongside divorce and the increased visibility of gay parenting offer a range of differing fathering narratives. There have been a series of demographic changes in a range of countries over the last decades: declining fertility rates, ageing populations, falling marriage rates and an increase in cohabitation, which open up differing and fluid possibilities (O’Brien, 2004). The opportunities and constraints open to men who father continue to vary according to class, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, age and their intersections. Moreover, biographical experiences of being fathered and fathering are crucial aspects of diversity to consider.
Individual life stories can encompass considerable complexity and fluidity (Lee, 2008). As O’Brien (2005: 19-20) notes:
[I]t would not be uncommon for a contemporary divorced father to have caring and economic responsibilities to a non-resident biological child living with his ex-wife, a biological child living with him and his new partner, as well as a co-resident, non-biological child from his second partner's first marriage.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Contemporary FatheringTheory, Policy and Practice, pp. 1 - 18Publisher: Bristol University PressPrint publication year: 2009