Intergenerational Support and Reciprocity Between Low-Income African American Fathers and Their Aging Mothers

This chapter explores men's perceptions of a vital relationship in their lives: the one they have with their own mothers. It examines how men are socialized at early ages into parenting behavior, and the roles that their mothers play in “teaching” them to be fathers. It addresses: unfolding reciprocity between aging mothers and their adult sons, with a focus on shared residency and household responsibilities; kin work, through care offered by paternal grandmothers, which helps to secure involvement of nonresidential fathers; and exchange of financial, emotional, and social support. The chapter concludes with implications for family policies, and work with African American fathers in community-based programs and interventions