Research Catalog

Title

Young unwed fathers : changing roles and emerging policies / edited by Robert I. Lerman and Theodora J. Ooms.

Publication

Philadelphia : Temple University Press, c1993.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Lerman, Robert I.
• Ooms, Theodora, 1939-

Description

vi, 348 p. : ill.; 24 cm.

Summary

"One in five children in the United States is born to an unwed mother. Fifty-three percent of children supported by welfare have unmarried parents. While public attention has focused almost solely on unwed mothers, an emerging new interest in unwed fathers is being fueled largely by sensational anecdotes and stereotypes. This volume is the first to bring together a wide and balanced array of research perspectives on unwed fatherhood. Sixteen essays - all but one of which are original to this volume - describe unwed fathers' characteristics and behavior, examine policies to enforce child support, assess programs designed to help unwed fathers assume parental responsibility, and discuss the legal and ethical rights and obligations of unwed fathers." "New research is presented that examines the patterns, causes, and consequences of unwed fatherhood. Two of the essays focus on young men in New York City and Philadelphia. The comprehensive studies presented here review male involvement in unwed parenting from pre-parenthood sexual behavior, through pregnancy/abortion/ adoption decisions, to the social and economic aspects of raising an out-of-wedlock child. Irresponsible "macho" stereotypes of unwed teenage fathers are both challenged and confirmed." "The Family Support Act of 1988 and other emerging state and federal policies that involve welfare, employment, and child support are discussed in terms of the implications for unwed fathers. Some essays analyze programs that promote financial stability and thus parental responsibility for unwed fathers. Relying on research ranging from national surveys to rich ethnographies, the contributors provide new knowledge and insights to the public debate about welfare reform, paternity and child support, and family values."--BOOK JACKET.

Subject

• Unmarried fathers > United States
• Unmarried fathers > Government policy > United States
• Fathers
• Single Parent
• Government
• Illegitimacy
• Public Policy
• Social Problems
• United States

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

1. Introduction: Evolution of Unwed Fatherhood as a Policy Issue / Robert I. Lerman and Theodora J. Ooms -- 2. A National Profile of Young Unwed Fathers / Robert I. Lerman -- 3. Young Fathers and Parenting in Two Inner-City Neighborhoods / Mercer L. Sullivan -- 4. Sex Codes and Family Life among Poor Inner-City Youths / Elijah Anderson -- 5. Paternity Risk among Adolescent Males / Freya L. Sonenstein, Joseph H. Pleck and Leighton C. Ku -- 6. When and Why Fathers Matter: Impacts of Father Involvement on the Children of Adolescent Mothers / Frank F. Furstenberg, Jr. and Kathleen Mullan Harris -- 7. Legal Rights and Obligations: An Uneven Evolution / Ruth-Arlene W. Howe -- 8. Ethical Dimensions of Young Unwed Fatherhood / George W. Harris -- 9. Creating Federal Leadership in Research and Policy Development / Linda M. Mellgren -- 10. Paternity Actions and Young Fathers / Esther Wattenberg -- 11. The Problems and Promise of Child Support Policies / Sandra K. Danziger, Carolyn K. Kastner and Terri J. Nickel -- 12. In-Kind Contributions as Child Support: The Teen Alternative Parenting Program / Maureen A. Pirog-Good -- 13. Involving Unwed Fathers in Adoption Counseling and Teen Pregnancy Programs / M. Laurie Leitch, Anne M. Gonzalez and Theodora J. Ooms -- 14. The Role of Unwed Fathers in the Abortion Decision / Arthur B. Shostak -- 15. Service Programs to Help Unwed Fathers / Joelle Sander -- 16. Employment Patterns of Unwed Fathers and Public Policy / Robert I. Lerman.

ISBN

1566390486 (alk. paper)

LCCN

92039617

OCLC

• 27035373
• ocm27035373
• SCSB-4720164

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries