Construction of Single Mothers’ Roles as Gatekeepers Between Children and Nonresident Fathers

Abstract

This study explores single mothers’ roles as gatekeepers in the relationship between children and nonresident fathers in families, where fathers do not have a history of shared residence with their children. Thematic analysis of interviews with 34 mothers in Ireland revealed that the majority of mothers adopted gate-opening strategies, including active facilitation of father–child contact, conditional facilitation, and adoption of a “hands-off approach” wherein mothers were open to—but not actively involved in facilitating—father–child contact. A minority of mothers were not open to their children having contact with their fathers (gate-closing). Underpinning mothers’ gatekeeping strategies were beliefs about the importance of fathers and a desire to protect their children. The findings indicate that gate-opening could be challenging for mothers as they were required to balance a tension between believing that father–child contact was important for their children and being concerned about their children’s well-being within the father–child relationship.