"I have to be a man for my son": The narrative uses of fatherhood in prison.

William J Schultz,Kevin D Haggerty,Sandra M Bucerius

doi:10.1177/14624745211018760

Abstract

Research on incarcerated fathers tends to accentuate the harmful familial consequences of parental incarceration and discuss how having children might prompt incarcerated fathers to desist from crime. Less attention has focused on how narratives of fatherhood shape the day-to-day dynamics of incarceration. Drawing on 93 qualitative interviews with incarcerated fathers in Western Canada, we focus specifically on our participants' parenting narratives. Such narratives are significant interventions in the world, allowing incarcerated fathers to frame their identities in particular ways while simultaneously shaping personal behaviour. Our research, 1. Identifies important fatherhood narratives provided by our participants, and 2. Details how such narratives operate in prison, allowing our participants to advance personal agendas that are themselves related to the dynamics of incarceration. In doing so, we provide insights into incarcerated fathers' situations and advance criminological efforts to appreciate how different actors entangled in the criminal justice system conceive, manage, and narrate their situation.

Highlights

Titus was large, heavily tattooed, and physically intimidating
Drawing on 93 qualitative interviews with incarcerated fathers in Western Canada, we focus on how men recount parenting narratives to deal with the stressful and painful experience of incarceration (Ugelvik, 2014)
We offer insights into imprisoned fathers’ situations, and advance criminological efforts to appreciate how different actors enmeshed in the criminal justice system narrate their situation (Copes et al, 2015; Fleetwood, 2015; Presser and Sandberg, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Heavily tattooed, and physically intimidating. A powerful man in his early forties, he was charismatic and had a well-documented talent for fighting, which he had parlayed into a high-ranking position in a local street gang. They’ve got a dad that’s looking at another ten years [in prison] that they’ve been waiting for thirteen years to get out Until this point in our discussion, Titus had exclusively framed himself as a tough and dangerous man on the streets, recounting his drug dealing accomplishments and penchant for violence. When he began discussing his children, his story’s narrative arc dramatically shifted, and he began foregrounding a different set of characterizations focused on himself as a parent. We offer insights into imprisoned fathers’ situations, and advance criminological efforts to appreciate how different actors enmeshed in the criminal justice system narrate their situation (Copes et al, 2015; Fleetwood, 2015; Presser and Sandberg, 2015)

Literature review

Findings

Discussion and conclusion