Nonresident Fathers, Kin, and Intergenerational Parenting

In this chapter, we review the literature on fathering in intergenerational kin networks, with particular emphasis on studies of the last 20 years on the experiences of low-income, young nonresident fathers. We apply concepts from a life course framework to clarify how nonresident fathers navigate and negotiate their parental roles through family relationships. We use our own life history interview data from 146 such fathers to describe the processes of men’s kin work as it unfolds in the context of shifting residence and poverty. Together, our data and the review of the literature suggest a need for understanding processes and contexts of kin networks that shape nonresidential fathering, including socialization to parenting, negotiation of kin work responsibilities, and creation of family legacies for intergenerational parenting. We conclude the chapter with consideration of bridges to other disciplines, policy implications, and a range of compelling questions that may lead to development of methodological techniques, data sets, and theoretical orientations to inform understanding of nonresident fathers’ experiences in deep, rich family networks.