Perceptions of young, single African American fathers and early childrearing involvement: A phenomenological study

A qualitative study was used to explore the perceptions of young, single African American fathers and early childrearing involvement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of six men enrolled in a community-based, fatherhood program in a Midwestern city. Experiences were clustered into themes resulting in a rich, thick description of participants’ perceptions of fathering. Four major themes emerged: (a) a work in progress: fatherhood investment; (b) a little island by myself: barriers to fathering; (c) I’m going to be there from day one to infinity: presence; and (d) the tomorrow dad: not like my dad. The researcher presented a description of how fatherhood was experienced by the participants and what was experienced. Active participation in childrearing cares evolved as the essence of young, single African American fatherhood. Fathering characteristics as well as the social and cultural context in which childrearing interactions developed were noteworthy determinants of paternal identity and behavior. Barriers to fathering created resource-poor environments posing challenges to involvement. Dispelling the myth that fathers are expendable remains a concern. The findings support the need for more father-based resources and father-centered interventions