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A Big Brother: New Findings on How Low-Income Fathers Define Responsible Fatherhood

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  • Monika Myers

Abstract

I interviewed 57 low-income fathers about how they define responsible fatherhood. Unlike findings from previous research, their definition did not include financial provision or daily caregiving. Instead, their definition included six dimensions, some of which resemble a “Big Brother”: spending time in non-caregiving activities; avoiding harm by voluntarily distancing from the child when it is in the child’s best interest; acknowledging paternity in non-legal forums; spending money on gifts, joint activities, and special needs; monitoring the child’s home for trouble; and minimizing absences in the child’s life. Because these fathers do not emphasize traditional breadwinning or primary caregiving, their responsible fathering beliefs and behavior may be unappreciated by academics, practitioners, and policy makers. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2013

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  • Monika Myers, 2013. "A Big Brother: New Findings on How Low-Income Fathers Define Responsible Fatherhood," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 253-264, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:34:y:2013:i:3:p:253-264
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-012-9327-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sandra Hofferth & Angela Pinzon, 2011. "Do Nonresidential Fathers’ Financial Support and Contact Improve Children’s Health?," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 280-295, June.
    2. Reichman, Nancy E. & Teitler, Julien O. & Garfinkel, Irwin & McLanahan, Sara S., 2001. "Fragile Families: sample and design," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4-5), pages 303-326.
    3. Alisha Coleman-Jensen, 2011. "Working for Peanuts: Nonstandard Work and Food Insecurity Across Household Structure," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 84-97, March.
    4. Brandeanna Allen & John Nunley & Alan Seals, 2011. "The Effect of Joint-Child-Custody Legislation on the Child-Support Receipt of Single Mothers," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 124-139, March.
    5. Sandra Hofferth & Nicole Forry & H. Peters, 2010. "Child Support, Father–Child Contact, and Preteens’ Involvement with Nonresidential Fathers: Racial/Ethnic Differences," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 14-32, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yoshie Sano & Sheila Mammen & Myah Houghten, 2021. "Well-Being and Stability among Low-income Families: A 10-Year Review of Research," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 107-117, July.
    2. Sharon M. Danes & Antonio Alba Meraz & Ashley L. Landers, 2016. "Cultural Meanings of Resource Management for Mexican–Americans," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 607-623, December.
    3. Andrew Beauchamp, 2016. "Abortion Costs, Separation, and Non-marital Childbearing," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 182-196, June.
    4. Sangeetha Madhavan & Linda Richter & Shane Norris & Victoria Hosegood, 2014. "Fathers’ Financial Support of Children in a Low Income Community in South Africa," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 452-463, December.
    5. Robin S. Högnäs & Heidi Williams, 2017. "Maternal Kinship Involvement and Father Identity in Fragile Families," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 249-262, June.

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