Transitions Into and Out of Work: Stay-at-Home Fathers’ Thoughts and Feelings: A Brief Report

Catherine Jones,Susan Golombok,Jasmine Wells,Susan Imrie

doi:10.1177/10608265211032097

Catherine Jones, Susan Golombok + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1177/10608265211032097

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Journal: The Journal of men's studies	Publication Date: Jul 28, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Cambridge

Abstract

This qualitative study explored how stay-at-home fathers (SAHFs) think and feel about transitioning back into paid employment. Findings from a thematic analysis on interviews with 21 SAHFs in the United Kingdom revealed that many of the SAHFs expected to return to work. However, most of the fathers suggested that this would be part-time, or self-employment, which would allow them to remain highly involved in caregiving, representing their commitment to moving away from the traditional gender roles that are largely evident in parenting. Some fathers expressed a desire to return to the paid workforce whilst others showed apprehension, indicating tensions over negotiating work and care. These findings have practical implications for fathers who are highly involved in caregiving.

Highlights

Stay-at-home fathers (SAHFs) are defined in different ways but are largely understood to be fathers who are the primary caregiver for their children and are not in full-time paid employment (Stevens, 2015)
Given that many of the fathers became stay-at-home fathers due to financial reasons, such as the high cost of childcare, it was perhaps not surprising that around half of the fathers reported that they would be looking to return to paid work when their children were either in nursery, school, or school and after-school clubs
A minority of fathers reported that they were planning on always being a stay-at-home fathers (SAHFs)

Summary

Introduction

Stay-at-home fathers (SAHFs) are defined in different ways but are largely understood to be fathers who are the primary caregiver for their children and are not in full-time paid employment (Stevens, 2015). This is opposed to a more “traditional” organization of labor in the household, where the father would be the breadwinner. This may be advantageous, as upholding traditional views of masculinity can hinder gender equality and harm men who do not adhere to masculine norms, and can harm women (Elliott, 2015)

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