Fathers as carers in UK law and policy: dominant ideologies and lived experience

Busby, N. and Weldon-Johns, M. (2019) Fathers as carers in UK law and policy: dominant ideologies and lived experience. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 41(3), pp. 280-301. (doi: 10.1080/09649069.2019.1627085)

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Abstract

This article explores how working fathers are conceptualised within the UK’s work-family law and policy framework and whether a dominant ideology of fatherhood can be discerned. The socio-legal literature on men and masculinities is considered alongside established feminist theory on families, paid work and unpaid care to provide a backdrop to the analysis of current policy provision in this area. Three ‘ideal’ type ideologies of fatherhood are identified (‘absent’, ‘involved’ and ‘active’) which are used to critically examine the current legal framework. Despite claims to the contrary, the current framework supports and reaffirms the gendering of care so that the intransigence on the part of men and women to rebalance related responsibilities is unsurprising. The authors argue for a more care-centric approach to work-family policy in place of gender-specific normative modelling. A legal framework which enabled and encouraged all care providers to participate regardless of gender and biological relationship would not only improve the workplace experiences of women, but also enable men to develop and fulfil their care-giving aspirations and potential.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Busby, Professor Nicole
Authors: Busby, N., and Weldon-Johns, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Law
Journal Name:Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:0964-9069
ISSN (Online):1469-9621
Published Online:10 June 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
First Published:First published in Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 41(3):280-301
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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