Examining the Role of Mothers in Supporting or Limiting Father Involvement

• In Event: Supporting or Challenging Families Engagement With Schools

Abstract

As part of a larger community-based project on father involvement, we examined the maternal gatekeeping practices that potentially manage, encourage and/or discourage father involvement. A qualitative analysis of mother (n=13) and father (n=14) interviews led to a variety of ways that mothers open, widen, narrow and close the ‘gate’ to involvement in children’s lives, as well as with schools and community activities. Mothers helped manage and encouraged involvement with extra-curricular activities and emotionally bonding with children, especially with sons, but held few expectations for involvement with children’s schools or teachers. Data also revealed that maternal gatekeeping is nested within larger systems that guide the operations of school and community family engagement, which further facilitate or inhibit father involvement.

Authors

• Kyle Elizabeth Miller, Illinois State University

• Lakeesha James

• Jordan Arellanes

• Amanda Weissgerber-Mellett