Fathering and Poverty : Uncovering Men’s Participation in Low-Income Family Life

This monograph reports on pioneering research from the ‘Men, Poverty and Lifetimes of Care’ (Leverhulme Trust, 2014-2018) study. It addresses questions concerning the routine care responsibilities of men in low-income localities and the resources and constraints that affect how they ‘do’ family and care on an everyday basis. Drawing on a mix of ethnographic, photographic and interview data generated with twenty-six men in different generational positions living in a Northern city in England, the relational dynamics of low-income family life are examined. The central thesis is that while policy and lay discussions of low-income men emphasise men’s absence, limited empirical focus on the household and on the role of ‘father’ as a generational identity, serves to obscure the variety of ways in which men in low-income families participate in family life in significant ways, at different times. Advancing the concept of family participation, the book reveals the contexts of significant hardship through which men in different generational positions engage in a range of caring practices. At the same time, austerity has entrenched conditions antithetical to these men’s efforts on behalf of their children and grandchildren. The analyses therefore reveal circumstances when men might be more resourced and capable of taking on care responsibilities, but also where state support may be lacking yet much needed. In a context of social ambivalence about men as carers, men with caring responsibilities remain highly isolated and welfare and market provision for ‘caring masculinities’ is neither being produced nor sustained. Front Cover Fathering and Poverty: Uncovering Men’s Participation in Low- Income Family Life Copyright information Dedication Table of contents List of figures and tables List of abbreviations About the author Acknowledgments 1 Introduction: Fathering, poverty, families and policy ‘Dad deprivation’: the current state of policy and public debate Contemporary fatherhoods: Unpicking father absence and presence The absent presence of low-income men Alternative stories? The absence of low-income fathers in qualitative research Researching the family participation of men in low-income contexts A new direction for debate and an overview of the book 2 Low-income fatherhoods in historical and political context Histories of low-income fatherhood: culture versus conduct The hyper-visibility of low-income fathers in contemporary social policy and welfare contexts Austerity Britain: absent fathers, deprived localities The (in)visibility of low-income fathers in social sciences research Marginalisation processes and fathering practices Men and contemporary family poverty Concluding remarks 3 Theorising men’s participation in low-income families Qualitative longitudinal research: thinking dynamically Families, caring masculinities and low-income life: a conceptual framework Family dynamics, diversity and social change Changing gender relations Theorising masculinities and fatherhoods in transition Masculinities and the doing of kinship Theorising low-income family life and local ties Concluding remarks 4 Supporting men in low-income contexts: practitioner observations Low-income family interdependencies on services Researching with service providers and support professionals A brief note on the city as context Formal agencies Voluntary and third sector agencies Knowledge-exchange workshop Concluding remarks 5 Men’s caring arrangements and family trajectories Diverse caring arrangements Young fathers Lone-father caring arrangements Social fathering and wider familial care practices Non-resident arrangements Lone, mid-life fatherhood Older male carers and grandfathers Concluding remarks 6 Familial economic circumstances and provisioning practices Reconciling earning and caring Managing ‘shocks’, and strategies for getting by Welfare trajectories and processes Child maintenance policy and processes Securing appropriate housing Anticipated welfare futures Concluding remarks 7 Men’s family participation in low-income urban neighbourhoods A contextual description of the locality Immersion in life at the community centre Capturing locality-based resources: walking photovoice Concluding remarks 8 Conclusion: Men’s family participation in low-income contexts The contributions of MPLC The dynamics of men’s family lives: conceptualising family participation The deprivations of context Supporting men as fathers and carers Ongoing and future research Men are committed to the people in their families and value their roles as fathers and grandfathers As well as being fathers and grandfathers, men also look out for each other in their localities as uncles and brothers However, over time, men may be unable to fulfil their care responsibilities because of continuing constraints on their resources Geography, relationships with partners and a lack of state support Men are not just ‘absent’ dads. They make decisions about their responsibilities in relation to their resources and within complex family circumstances The effects of care responsibilities and constraint on men’s well being; emotional responses Appendix A: Participant information Appendix B: ‘Existing evidence’ document shared at the knowledge-exchange workshop Men, Poverty and Lifetimes of Care Men are committed to the people in their families and value their roles as fathers and grandfathers As well as being fathers and grandfathers, men also look out for each other in their localities as uncles and brothers However, over time, men may be unable to fulfil their care responsibilities because of continuing constraints on their resources Geography, relationships with partners and a lack of state support Men are not just ‘absent’ dads. They make decisions about their responsibilities in relation to their resources and within complex family circumstances The effects of care responsibilities and constraint on men’s well being; emotional responses Notes References Index Back Cover Front Cover -- Fathering And Poverty: Uncovering Men's Participation In Low- Income Family Life -- Copyright Information -- Dedication -- Table Of Contents -- List Of Figures And Tables -- List Of Abbreviations -- About The Author -- Acknowledgments -- 1 Introduction: Fathering, Poverty, Families And Policy -- 'dad Deprivation': The Current State Of Policy And Public Debate -- Contemporary Fatherhoods: Unpicking Father Absence And Presence -- The Absent Presence Of Low-income Men -- Alternative Stories? -- The Absence Of Low-income Fathers In Qualitative Research Researching The Family Participation Of Men In Low-income Contexts -- A New Direction For Debate And An Overview Of The Book -- 2 Low-income Fatherhoods In Historical And Political Context -- Histories Of Low-income Fatherhood: Culture Versus Conduct -- The Hyper-visibility Of Low-income Fathers In Contemporary Social Policy And Welfare Contexts -- Austerity Britain: Absent Fathers, Deprived Localities -- The (in)visibility Of Low-income Fathers In Social Sciences Research -- Marginalisation Processes And Fathering Practices -- Men And Contemporary Family Poverty -- Concluding Remarks 3 Theorising Men's Participation In Low-income Families -- Qualitative Longitudinal Research: Thinking Dynamically -- Families, Caring Masculinities And Low-income Life: A Conceptual Framework -- Family Dynamics, Diversity And Social Change -- Changing Gender Relations -- Theorising Masculinities And Fatherhoods In Transition -- Masculinities And The Doing Of Kinship -- Theorising Low-income Family Life And Local Ties -- Concluding Remarks -- 4 Supporting Men In Low-income Contexts: Practitioner Observations -- Low-income Family Interdependencies On Services Researching With Service Providers And Support Professionals -- A Brief Note On The City As Context -- Formal Agencies -- Voluntary And Third Sector Agencies -- Knowledge-exchange Workshop -- Concluding Remarks -- 5 Men's Caring Arrangements And Family Trajectories -- Diverse Caring Arrangements -- Young Fathers -- Lone-father Caring Arrangements -- Social Fathering And Wider Familial Care Practices -- Non-resident Arrangements -- Lone, Mid-life Fatherhood -- Older Male Carers And Grandfathers -- Concluding Remarks -- 6 Familial Economic Circumstances And Provisioning Practices Reconciling Earning And Caring -- Managing 'shocks', And Strategies For Getting By -- Welfare Trajectories And Processes -- Child Maintenance Policy And Processes -- Securing Appropriate Housing -- Anticipated Welfare Futures -- Concluding Remarks -- 7 Men's Family Participation In Low-income Urban Neighbourhoods -- A Contextual Description Of The Locality -- Immersion In Life At The Community Centre -- Capturing Locality-based Resources: Walking Photovoice -- Concluding Remarks -- 8 Conclusion: Men's Family Participation In Low-income Contexts -- The Contributions Of Mplc Anna Tarrant. The Dynamics Of Men's Family Lives: Conceptualising Family Participation. Electronic Reproduction. Baltimore, Md Available Via World Wide Web. Anna Tarrant’s revealing research explores the dynamics of men’s caring responsibilities in low-income families’ lives. The book draws on pioneering multigenerational research to examine men’s involvement in care for their families. It interrogates how this is affected by the resources available and the constraints upon them, considering intersections of gender, generation and work, as well as the impact of austerity and welfare support. Illuminating aspects of care within economic hardship that often go unseen, it deepens our understanding of masculinities and family life and the policies and practices that support or undermine men’s participation. Anna Tarrant’s revealing research explores the dynamics of men’s caring responsibilities in low-income families’ lives. The book draws on pioneering multigenerational research to examine men’s involvement in care for their families. It interrogates how this is affected by the resources available and the constraints upon them, considering intersections of gender, generation and work, as well as the impact of austerity and welfare support. Illuminating aspects of care within economic hardship that often go unseen, it deepens our understanding of masculinities and family life and the policies and practices that support or undermine men’s participation. "Anna Tarrant's revealing research explores the dynamics of men's caring responsibilities in low-income families' lives. The book draws on pioneering multigenerational research to examine men's involvement in care for their families. It interrogates how this is affected by the resources available and the constraints upon them, considering intersections of gender, generation and work, as well as the impact of austerity and welfare support. Illuminating aspects of care within economic hardship that often go unseen, it deepens our understanding of masculinities and family life and the policies and practices that support or undermine men's participation. "-- ProQuest Ebook Central resource page, viewed February 8, 2022 Anna Tarrant’s revealing research explores the dynamics and diversity of men’s caring roles in low-income households at various stages of their lives. It sheds light on men’s participation in care and the factors that affect it, including class, culture, work and the impact of austerity.