A review of five major social work journals published during a 27-year period indicates that the literature on fathers is sparse. The view of fathers that emerges from articles that have been published shows fathers as perpetrators, as missing, and as embattled. If the social work profession is to remain committed to working with families, then researchers and practitioners must study the changing patterns of fatherhood.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BarretR. L., & RobinsonB. E. (1982). Teenage fathers: Neglected too long. Social Work, 27, 484–488.
2.
BensonL. (1985). Theoretical perspectives. American Behavioral Scientist, 29, 25–40.
3.
BerlinS., & KravetzD. (1981). Women as victims: A feminist social work perspective. Social Work, 26, 447–449.
4.
BlumsteinP., & SchwartzP. (1983). American couples.New York: William Morrow.
5.
BowenG. L. (1987). Single fathers in the Air Force. Social Casework, 68, 339–344.
6.
BoydS. T. (1985). Study of the father. American Behavioral Scientist, 29, 112.
7.
DuketteR., & StevensonN. (1973). The legal rights of unmarried fathers: The impact of recent court decisions. Social Service Reivew, 47, 1–15.
8.
EronL. (1961). Comparison of data obtained from mothers and fathers on childrearing practices and their relation to child aggression. Child Development, 32, 457–472.
9.
FeldmanL. B. (1982). Sex roles and family dynamics. In WalshF. (Ed.), Normal family processes.New York: Guilford Press.
10.
HalpernJ. (1987). Family therapy in father–son incest: A case study. Social Casework, 68, 88–93.
11.
HendricksL. E. (1983). Suggestions for reaching unmarried black adolescent fathers. Child Welfare, 62, 141–146.
12.
HerzogE. (1966). Some notes about unmarried fathers. Child Welfare, 45, 194–197.
13.
HoorwitzA. N. (1983). Guidelines for treating father–daughter incest. Social Casework, 64, 515–524.
14.
KeshetH. F., & RosenthalK. M. (1978). Fathering after marital separation. Social Work, 23, 11–18.
15.
KurtzL. F., & ChambonA. (1987). Comparison of self-help groups for mental health. Health and Social Work, 12, 275–283.
16.
LeaderA. L. (1973). Family therapy for divorced fathers and others out of the home. Social Casework, 54, 13–19.
17.
LewisK. (1978). Single-father families: Who they are and how they fare. Child Welfare, 57, 643–651.
18.
LindseyE. W.YarbroughD. B., & MortonT. D. (1987). Evaluating interpersonal skills training for public welfare staff. Social Service Review, 61, 623–635.
19.
LongresJ. F., & BaileyR. H. (1979). Men's issues and sexism: A journal review. Social Work, 24, 26.
20.
McIntyreK. (1981). Role of mothers in father–daughter incest: A feminist analysis. Social Work, 26, 473–478.
21.
MendesH. A. (1976). Single fatherhood. Social Work, 21, 308–313.
22.
NashJ. (1965). The father in contemporary culture and current psychological literature. Child Development, 36, 261–295.
23.
NietoD. S. (1982). Aiding the single father. Social Work, 27, 479–482.
24.
PannorR., & EvansB. W. (1967). The unmarried father: An integral part of casework services to the unmarried mother. Child Welfare, 46, 150–155.
25.
PierceL. H. (1987). Father–son incest: Using the literature to guide practice. Social Casework, 68, 67–74.
26.
PolanskyN. A.ChalmersM. A.ButtenweiserE., & WilliamsD. P. (1979). The absent father in child neglect. Social Service Review, 53, 163–174.
27.
QuamJ. K., & AustinC. D. (1984). Coverage of women's issues in eight social work journals, 1970–1981. Social Work, 29, 360–365.
28.
RowanM., & PannorR. (1961). An assertive casework approach to the older unmarried father. Child Welfare, 40, 23–28.
SpencerJ. (1978). Father–daughter incest: A clinical view from the corrections field. Child Welfare, 57, 581–590.
31.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1986). Statistical abstracts of the United States: 1985.Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
32.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1987). Households, families, marital status, and living arrangements: March 1987 (advance report). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
33.
WattenbergE. (1985). In a different light: A feminist perspective on the role of mothers in father–daughter incest. Child Welfare, 64, 203–211.
34.
WheelerB. R., & WaltonE. (1987). Personality disturbances of adult incest victims. Social Casework, 68, 597–602.
35.
WhitemanM.FanshelD., & GrundyJ. F. (1987). Cognitive–behavioral interventions aimed at anger of parents at risk of child abuse. Social Work, 32, 469–474.
36.
WintE., & BrownJ. (1987). Promoting effective parenting: A study of two methods in Kingston, Jamaica. Child Welfare, 66, 507–516.
37.
WylderJ. (1982). Including the divorced father in family therapy. Social Work, 27, 479–482.
