The Impact of Fathers' Absence on African American Adolescents' Gender Role Development

Abstract

Gender role development was assessed in 52 father-absent and 54 father-present African American adolescents. Father-present boys, especially those from lower-income backgrounds, had higher perceptions of their masculinity than did father-absent boys. Lower income father-absent girls perceived themselves to be higher in masculinity than did all other girls. Consequently, father-present adolescents tended to have more traditional gender role orientations than did those in father-absent homes. It is argued that mothers' and fathers' different socializing strategies balance out in two-parent homes. However, in father-absent homes, mothers' tendency to rely on and pressure their daughters fosters relatively more masculine girls, whereas a lack of father socialization fosters less masculine boys. Implications for theory and future research are also discussed.

A Qualitative Analysis of Father–Son Relationships among HIV-Positive Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men

“…[33][34][35] Higher levels of agreement with traditional masculinity beliefs are generally associated with risk behaviors such as sexual partner concurrency and inconsistent condom use. [36][37][38] Some researchers have suggested that growing up with non-resident fathers is associated with less adherence to traditional masculinity norms, 39 which might be interpreted as portending lower sexual risk. On the other hand, other work in adult black MSM described lack of masculine socialization from absent biological fathers in childhood and adolescence as a potentially detrimental influence on partner selection and risky sex later in life.…”

Gender role orientation is associated with health-related quality of life differently among African-American, Hispanic, and White youth

“…It may be speculated that androgynous gender roles are associated with better HRQOL among African-American girls because demonstrating leadership and autonomy can be helpful when confronted with challenges more common in their experience, such being raised by a single parent where supervision and support may be less available [32]. White girls, both nationally and within this sample, are more likely to come from higher SES households in which having orientations toward caring and empathy may be more normative and do not generally result in pressures to neglect their own health [25].…”

Die impak van afwesige vaders op adolessente dogters se psigososiale welstand

“…As gevolg daarvan is dit vir 'n groot aantal vaders nie moontlik om saam met hulle kinders te leef en om hulle te onderhou nie (Holborn & Eddy, 2011;Madhavan, Townsend, & Garey, 2008;Smit, 2004;Steyn, 1993). Mandara, Murray, and Joyner (2005) voer aan dat die nalatenskap van apartheid, werkloosheid, armoede en ongelykheid in postapartheid Suid-Afrika, geslagsongelykheid en MIV/VIGS, 'n nadelige impak het op gesinspraktyke en die betrokkenheid van vaders by hul kinders se lewens.…”

“…In 'n studie wat gedoen is deur Mandara et al (2005), is bevind dat vaderlose dogters van 'n lae-inkomstegroep, h e a l t h s a g e s o n d h e i d 2 0 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 4 5 e5 8 hulleself as meer manlik beskou as dogters met betrokke vaders. Hulle is meer geneig om eienskappe soos onafhanklikheid en selfgelding te ontwikkel vanwe€ e die feit dat hulle nie gewoond is aan 'n beskermende vaderfiguur wat hulle in tye van nood bystaan nie (Cruz et al 2011;Green, 1976:72;Goodsell & Meldrum, 2010).…”

“…Hierdie verskille kan hoofsaaklik toegeskryf word aan die omgewingseise van armer gemeenskappe en die afwesigheid van vaders se tradisionele sosialiseringstrategie€ e in vaderlose huishoudings. Alhoewel die ontwikkeling van meer manlike eienskappe soos onafhanklikheid en selfgelding nie noodwendig nadelig is nie, het die gebrek aan 'n hegte verhouding met 'n pa nadelige emosionele implikasies tot gevolg (Grainger, 2004;Mandara et al 2005). …”