RESEARCH PAPER

Research paper

Research paper

Single-fatherhood has nearly doubled in the population during the last decade. Indeed, a comparison of the 1990 and 2000 Census indicates that the number of single-fathers living with children under the age of six as well as between the ages of 6 to 17 is growing (United States Census Bureau, 2002). Although single-fathers are heading more and more households, they are often treated as if they are invisible and have been ignored by academicians and policy experts (Bernstein, 1992). Indeed, despite the growing population of single-fathers in the "real world," little extant literature exists that examines the experience of single-fatherhood and how fathers communicate that experience and reality to their children.

Types of Families

Much has changed in the past few decades regarding the composition of families. Indeed, the seemingly impermeable boundaries of the traditional family have become permeable. As a result, much more diverse representations of family exist. Nevertheless, laypersons as well as scholars often struggle with how to define family (Fine, 1993; Trost, 1988, 1990). In regard to the struggle of defining family, Trost (1990) argued, "Apparently, what is familiar is the term only, certainly not the concept" (p. 431). Much of the extant literature on family relationships and family communication focuses on traditional two parent families. Of the existing literature on single parents, much of the focus lies with the single-mother household versus the single-father household (Hilton, Desrochers, & Devall, 2001). Many studies that do examine single-fathers focus on their noncustodial or absenteeism status. Indeed, many of the single parent reports and briefs available from various government sources (e.g., the Census) focus on the single-mother. Similarly, from a social and cultural standpoint, many aspects of single-parenthood are assumed to be synonymous with single-motherhood.

For example, most family-related television commercials are geared at mothers (e.g., advertisements related to meal preparation, childcare, household chores), projecting the assumption that issues of caregiving and nurturing are specific to women. Few television shows or movies portray single-fathers and the ones that do approach the topic from a comedic bent (e.g., "Mr. Mom"), circumstances in which the single-father receives a lot of outside help (e.g., "My Three Sons," "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," "Family Affair," "Three Men and a Baby," or the pilot episode of the "Brady Bunch"), or involve a storyline in which a romantic interest is sought or brought into the household to assist with the children (e.g., "Table for Five"). Yet, single-fathers exist and the number of single-father households is growing (Peterson & Steinmetz, 2000). Given individuals' propensity to equate single-parenthood with single-motherhood, single-fathers might feel as though they enact a role that is not recognized as prevalently by society. Considering the lack of voice afforded by many media and social outlets, it is likely that many single-fathers feel frustrated that their voice is not heard or validated. The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of single-fatherhood and single-fathers' communication about that experience with their child.

Single-fatherhood

In the event of a dissolved marriage, both husbands and wives agree ...