Doctoral Dissertation Research: Cultural Representations of Paternity Among Poor, Unmarried Parents

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9400857 Lamont This is an award under the Grants for Improving Doctoral Dissertation Research Program. The research will examine cultural representations of paternity among poor, unmarried parents. Drawing on 60 interviews in New Jersey with never- married mothers and fathers (black and white) with incomes at or below 125% of the poverty line, the study investigates the categories into which they interpret the rights and responsibilities of fatherhood. It also explores whether different representations of paternity can be explained by the socio-demographic characteristics and cultural or structural environments of respondents. This analysis will speak to such sociological questions as: 1) What is the significance of paternity for the poor in contemporary society? 2) Do never- married parents perceive legal fatherhood to be culturally normative, or do they accept the mother-child dyad or the matrifocal, extended family as equally viable cultural alternatives? 3) For unmarried parents, does the recent increase in nonmarital childbearing symbolize a cultural response to improving social conditions for women or the reproduction of gender inequality within new family arrangement? %%% This research will contribute to the sociology of the family, of gender roles, and of contemporary urban culture. Given that about a quarter of all births in the United States now occur outside of marriage, the research will also contribute to the knowledge base upon which policy makers will decide the public response to changing social conditions and problems. In addition to the scientific gains to be achieved by the research, this award will materially assist a highly promising student in completing research for the Ph.D. dissertation. Thus it contributes to the future scientific manpower of the nation and the thorough training of the next generation of social scientists. ***