“Hey Dad, I just wanna say hello”: Digital Leisure among Nonresident Fathers

Abstract

Geographical separation of nonresident fathers from their children creates multiple constraints to their involvement with their children. Many interactions nonresident parents in the United States have with their children occur in a leisure context. Therefore, mobile technology and digital leisure may mitigate limitations associated with fathers’ nonresidency. This study presents findings from eight interviews with African-American and Caucasian nonresident fathers about the use of digital leisure in their fathering. Findings from this study suggest that nonresident fathers both dislike and appreciate use of mobile technology by their children. Moreover, digital leisure and mobile technology represent a part of their generative fathering practices, and appear to have some symbolic meaning in their construction of fatherhood. We further discuss these findings in the context of social justice issues associated with fathering.