Gendered expectations? Reconsidering single fathers’ child-care time

Citation

Hook, Jennifer L. & Chalasani, Satvika (2008). Gendered expectations? Reconsidering single fathers' child-care time. Journal of Marriage and Family. vol. 70 (4) pp. 978-990

Abstract

We take a fresh look at an important question in the sociology of gender and family: Do single fathers “mother”? We add to the theoretical debate by proposing that single fathers face competing interactional pressures, to simultaneously act like mothers and men. Using nationally representative data from the American Time Use Survey 2003 – 2006 (N = 16,654), we compare the time single fathers spend on child care to other parent types, paying special attention to differences in employment profiles, household composition, and care arrangements. Accounting for these differences, single fathers spend slightly less time caring for children than do mothers, but more time than married fathers. Interesting differences emerge, however, depending upon the age of the youngest child in the household.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1741-3737.2008.00540.x

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Marriage and Family

Author(s)

Hook, Jennifer L.
Chalasani, Satvika

Year Published

2008

Volume Number

70

Issue Number

4

Pages

978-990

DOI

10.1111/j.1741-3737.2008.00540.x

Reference ID

828