Community-Based Participatory Research With Fathers: Paternal Views of Father Involvement

• In Event: Marginalized Contexts and Partners Influencing Family-School-Community Partnerships

Abstract

This Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project involved a local fatherhood coalition made up of community organizations, school leaders, university representatives, and family members who desired to better understand the perspectives of fathers and their involvement in children’s lives. Ten fathers participated in semi-structured interviews about supports and barriers to father involvement. We inductively identified themes from interview transcripts through a constant comparative process. Five main themes were identified: 1) Maternal gatekeeping, 2) Technology – friend or foe?, 3) Doing things ‘for’ versus doing things ‘with’ children, 4) Improving one’s self to improve involvement, and 5) Initiating involvement. Findings challenged traditional constructions of parental ‘involvement’ and highlighted the ecological nature of father involvement. Implications for practitioners and schools are offered.

Authors

• Kyle Elizabeth Miller, Illinois State University

• Jacob Van Pelt, Illinois State University