Perceived Father Roles of Married African American Men: A Phenomenological Study

Authors

Felicia Murray, Texas Woman's UniversityFollow
Shann Hwa Hwang, Texas Woman's UniversityFollow

Abstract

Data is limited regarding the cultural and racial variations of fatherhood. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of eight married African American fathers focusing on their perceptions of father roles and responsible fathering behaviors. Specifically, the study highlighted two critical issues: (1) men’s perceptions about their roles as fathers; and (2) how historical characterizations of father roles can serve as a mechanism for understanding males’ current perceptions. The researchers identified seven role themes: provider, role model/sex role model, disciplinarian, leader, supporter, teacher/spiritual teacher, and guide. Implications for family science practitioners and researchers as well as suggestions for future research are provided.

Keywords

Father Roles, African American Fathers, Role Perception, Responsible Fatherhood, Phenomenology

Author Bio(s)

Felicia Law Murray, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Family Studies at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Her research interests are father engagement and involvement, maternal gatekeeping, evidence-based practice, co-parenting, and outcomes for former foster youth. She may be contacted at Department of Family Sciences, Texas Woman’s University, P.O. Box 425769, Denton, TX 76204-5769; Email: Fmurray@twu.edu

Shann Hwa (Abraham) Hwang, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Family Sciences at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. A certified family life educator, he teaches class on family development, parenting education, family theories, and research methodology. His research focuses on father-child relationships, financial stress, couple conflict, and Asian immigrant families. He may be contacted at Department of Family Sciences, Texas Woman’s University, P.O. Box 425769, Denton, TX 76204-5769; Email: Shwang@twu.edu

Publication Date

8-10-2015

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2015.2244

Recommended APA Citation

Murray, F., & Hwang, S. H. (2015). Perceived Father Roles of Married African American Men: A Phenomenological Study. The Qualitative Report, 20(8), 1185-1204. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2015.2244