4 - Provider expectations and father involvement: learning from experiences of poor “absent fathers” in Gauteng, South Africa
Corresponding Author(s) : Eddy Mazembo Mavungu
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 17 No. 1 (2013): African Sociological Review
Abstract
The phenomenon of absent fathers is prevalent in South Africa and has been singled out as a huge social challenge both in the public and policy debate. However, there has been little scholarly research on how men construct their role as fathers and on factors that constrain paternal involvement. This paper discusses constructions of paternal roles in South Africa, specifically in poor and black communities. The paper also seeks to understand how conceptions of fatherhood shape the type and extent of father involvement. Drawing from focus group discussions held in Gauteng’s poor and black communities with fathers that did not live with their children, this paper argues that fathers are predominantly seen as providers. This prevalent construction of fathers as mainly agents for financial and material support of children and families precludes the emergence of alternative fatherhood roles. Besides, unemployment and poverty affect fathers’ ability to live up to provider expectations. Hence, many fathers retreat or are excluded from playing an active role in their children’s lives. It is essential that social policy and community interventions promote multidimensional fatherhood so as to offer fathers with alternative roles which can be carried out even in situations of unemployment and poverty. Besides, unemployed and poor fathers need social assistance if the society is going to succeed to keep them involved in their children’s lives.
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- Beardshaw T., 2006, “Taking forward work with men in families”, in Richter L & Morrell R (eds) Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa, Cape Town: HSRC Press.
- Desmond, C. and Desmond, C., 2006, “HIV/AIDS and the crisis of care for children”. In L. Richter & R. Morell (Eds.), Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa, pp. 226 - 236. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
- Hetherington, EM., Stanley-Hagan, M., & Anderson, ER., 1989, “Marital transitions: A child’s perspective”. American Psychologist, 44, 303-312.
- Holborn, L. and Eddy, G., 2011, First Steps into Healing the South African Family.Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations.
- Khunou, G., 2006, “Father’s don’t stand a chance: experiences of custody, access and maintenance”. In L. Richter & R. Morell (Eds.), Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press, pp. 265-277.
- Khunou, G., 2006, Maintenance and changing masculinities as sources of gender conflict in contemporary Johannesburg. Johannesburg: dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Witwatersrand.
- Lamb, ME., 2000, “The History of Research on Father Involvement”. Marriage & Family Review, 29, no. 2-3, pp. 23-42.
- Lesejane, D., 2006, “Fatherhood from an African Cultural Perspective.” In L. Richter & R. Morell (Eds.), Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa, Cape Town: HSRC Press, pp. 173-183.
- Madhavan S, Townsend N, Garey A., 2006 “Father Presence in Rural South Africa: historical changes and life-course patterns”, International Journal of Sociology of the Family, 32, No. 2, 173-190.
- Madhaven, S., Townsend, NW. & Garey, AI., 2008, “‘Absent breadwinners’: Father-child connections and paternal support in rural South Africa”. Journal of Southern African Studies, 34, No. 3, 647-663.
- Marsiglio, W., Amato, P., Day, ED., & Lamb, ME., 2000, “Scholarship on fatherhood in the 1990s and beyond”. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, pp. 1173 -1191.
- Marsiglio, W., Day, RD.& Lamb, ME., 2008,“Exploring fatherhood diversity.” Marriage & Family Review, 29, No.4, pp. 269-293.
- Morrell, R and Richter, L., 2006, Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
- Mott FL., 1990, “When is a Father Really Gone? Paternal-Child Contact in Father- Absent Homes”, Demography, 27, No. 4, pp. 499-517.
- Peacock D et al., 2008, Literature review on Men, Gender, Health and HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
- Pleck, JH., 1997, “Paternal involvement: Levels, sources, and consequences”. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development, New York: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 66–103, 325–332.
- Redpath, J., Morrell, R., & Jewkes, R. & Peacock, D., 2008, Masculinities and public policy in South Africa: Changing masculinities and working toward gender equality. Johannesburg: Sonke Gender Justice Network.
- Richter, L. & Morrell, R. (Eds.), 2006, Baba: Men and fatherhood in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
- Roy K., 1999, “Low-Income Single Fathers in an African American Community and the Requirements of Welfare Reform, Paper.”
- Roy K., 2004, “You can’t eat love: Constructing Provider Role Expectations for Low- Income and Working-Class Fathers”, Fathering, vol 2, No 3.
- Smit, R., 2008, “New fatherhood’- fact or fiction? The perceptions and experiences of fathers in South Africa”. Acta Academica, 40, no. 1, pp. 52-77.
References
Beardshaw T., 2006, “Taking forward work with men in families”, in Richter L & Morrell R (eds) Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa, Cape Town: HSRC Press.
Desmond, C. and Desmond, C., 2006, “HIV/AIDS and the crisis of care for children”. In L. Richter & R. Morell (Eds.), Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa, pp. 226 - 236. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
Hetherington, EM., Stanley-Hagan, M., & Anderson, ER., 1989, “Marital transitions: A child’s perspective”. American Psychologist, 44, 303-312.
Holborn, L. and Eddy, G., 2011, First Steps into Healing the South African Family.Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations.
Khunou, G., 2006, “Father’s don’t stand a chance: experiences of custody, access and maintenance”. In L. Richter & R. Morell (Eds.), Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press, pp. 265-277.
Khunou, G., 2006, Maintenance and changing masculinities as sources of gender conflict in contemporary Johannesburg. Johannesburg: dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Witwatersrand.
Lamb, ME., 2000, “The History of Research on Father Involvement”. Marriage & Family Review, 29, no. 2-3, pp. 23-42.
Lesejane, D., 2006, “Fatherhood from an African Cultural Perspective.” In L. Richter & R. Morell (Eds.), Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa, Cape Town: HSRC Press, pp. 173-183.
Madhavan S, Townsend N, Garey A., 2006 “Father Presence in Rural South Africa: historical changes and life-course patterns”, International Journal of Sociology of the Family, 32, No. 2, 173-190.
Madhaven, S., Townsend, NW. & Garey, AI., 2008, “‘Absent breadwinners’: Father-child connections and paternal support in rural South Africa”. Journal of Southern African Studies, 34, No. 3, 647-663.
Marsiglio, W., Amato, P., Day, ED., & Lamb, ME., 2000, “Scholarship on fatherhood in the 1990s and beyond”. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, pp. 1173 -1191.
Marsiglio, W., Day, RD.& Lamb, ME., 2008,“Exploring fatherhood diversity.” Marriage & Family Review, 29, No.4, pp. 269-293.
Morrell, R and Richter, L., 2006, Baba: Men and Fatherhood in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
Mott FL., 1990, “When is a Father Really Gone? Paternal-Child Contact in Father- Absent Homes”, Demography, 27, No. 4, pp. 499-517.
Peacock D et al., 2008, Literature review on Men, Gender, Health and HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
Pleck, JH., 1997, “Paternal involvement: Levels, sources, and consequences”. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development, New York: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 66–103, 325–332.
Redpath, J., Morrell, R., & Jewkes, R. & Peacock, D., 2008, Masculinities and public policy in South Africa: Changing masculinities and working toward gender equality. Johannesburg: Sonke Gender Justice Network.
Richter, L. & Morrell, R. (Eds.), 2006, Baba: Men and fatherhood in South Africa. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
Roy K., 1999, “Low-Income Single Fathers in an African American Community and the Requirements of Welfare Reform, Paper.”
Roy K., 2004, “You can’t eat love: Constructing Provider Role Expectations for Low- Income and Working-Class Fathers”, Fathering, vol 2, No 3.
Smit, R., 2008, “New fatherhood’- fact or fiction? The perceptions and experiences of fathers in South Africa”. Acta Academica, 40, no. 1, pp. 52-77.