Help Wanted and Help Received by Israeli Divorced Custodial Fathers

Abstract

Comparing the help wanted and sought and the help received by 42 divorced custodial fathers with that wanted and sought and received by a matched group of 32 divorced custodial mothers, this paper investigates whether men who have assumed the traditionally female gender task of child care continue to adhere to the traditional male help‐seeking and help‐receiving patterns. Findings show that they do. Single custodial fathers both want and receive less help from own kin, friends, and ex‐spouse's kin than do single custodial mothers, and are less prone to seek professional help. On the other hand, both groups seek and receive the most help from a new partner, followed by own kin, friends, and ex‐spouse's kin.