Voices of the incarcerated father: Struggling to live up to fatherhood

Abstract

Despite overwhelming evidence that imprisonment has negative consequences for family members, very few studies have explored the mechanisms by which incarceration affects families and children. In particular, the father role is crucial to family members. Together with the fact that there have been few studies on incarcerated fathers and their relationships with significant others, this study draws on the theoretical bases and predictions of the identity theory to explore qualitatively the extent of expression of the fatherhood identity and the struggles and obstacles they experience in expressing it. This study documents qualitative reports of ex-prisoners' behavioural responses in resolving the negative emotions (if any) induced by the discrepancy between their internalized standards and the appraisals of significant others. A total of 17 Chinese participants were recruited to take part in semi-structured interviews via referrals from social service centres in Hong Kong. Results were consistent with the predictions of identity theory. That is, ex-prisoners experienced an inability to meet their fatherhood identity standard during and after incarceration, and as a result their identity standards were weakened or they experienced withdrawal of fatherhood identity. However, participants were additionally found to employ positive strategies actively in coping with their compromised identity, suggesting avenues for further research.

The Trajectory and Diaspora of Women Imprisonment: An Analysis

“…Childhood trauma is considered as the combination of different factors among which the history of their family members" incarceration is very vital (Chui, 2016;Altintas and Bilici, 2018;Caravaca-Sánchez et al, 2019). Therefore, the incarcerated females are more likely to face more delinquent outcomes from their children or other family members.…”

“…But they witnessed that mothers with children always enjoy better facilities which are applicable to their children. However, parents" incarceration in many cases are liable for childhood trauma which can lead them to a crime-prone lifestyle in their later life (Chui, 2016;Altintas and Bilici, 2018;Caravaca-Sánchez et al, 2019).…”

Paternidades Encarceradas: Revisão Sistemática Sobre a Paternidade No Contexto Do Cárcere

“…Por meio de entrevistas realizadas com exdetentos em Hong Kong, a pesquisa conduzida por Chui (2016) (2005) que, por sua vez, buscou compreender as percepções de pais encarcerados sobre a paternidade e a natureza de envolvimento mantido com seus filhos durante o período de prisão, pontuou que a prisão representava um período de "dormência" dos pais no que se refere à paternidade. Ademais, a liberdade era entendida como uma oportunidade de começar de novo, de estar perto e fazer a diferença na vida dos filhos.…”

“…Os nove artigos que não eram sustentados por uma abordagem de gênero eram, em sua maioria, provenientes dos EUA (Arditti et al, 2005;Geller et al, 2012;Geller et al, 2011;Perry & Bright, 2012;Secret, 2012;Schwartz-Soicher et al, 2011;Swisher & Waller, 2008); exceto por um de Hong Kong (Chui, 2016) e um da África do Sul (Prinsloo, 2007). As pesquisas americanas trouxeram questões relativas ao bem-estar dos filhos de pais encarcerados, porém com uma ótica ainda tradicional dos papéis de pai na família.…”

Doctoring With Conviction: Criminal Records and the Medical Profession

“…Empirical studies have repeatedly shown that several factors other than past criminal behaviour influence an individual's ability to desist or not from such behaviour in the future. These include, addiction and substance abuse issues; lack of paid employment; poor access to training and education; a lack of family support; types of friends; and age (Markson et al 2015, Chui 2016. Furthermore, the poorest members of society, alongside those who belong to racial and ethnic minority groups, are disproportionately represented within western criminal justice systems, and the underpinning self-justifying logic of the criminal record database perpetuates, for many of these individuals, their lived biography of social marginalisation and exclusion: it confirms that they will always belong at the edges of society (Pager 2008, Henley 2014, Fox 2016.…”