| The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the experience of the single father in college. A transformative/feminist perspective, interpreted through the author's personal lens of motherhood, sheds light on ways patriarchy and masculinity constrain the identities of a group of single fathers. Affordances and drawbacks of the father identity are explored, particularly in the context of school.;Being a father afforded these men certain advantages. They were positive role models for their children and made it a point to be present both physically and emotionally. The fathers demonstrated skills of emotional intelligence, and also did not see themselves as the typical college guy, and reported school being a positive influence in their lives in various ways. School provided structure in these fathers' lives and their success in education is evidence of their ability to persevere.;However, there were also drawbacks to being a single father. Fathers reported feeling overlooked or dismissed and reported negative connotations about men/fathers. They felt guilt and shame often, experienced financial difficulties and employment disadvantages, and they were also sometimes unsatisfied with living arrangements or their children's relationship with their mother.;Other challenges depended on the context and varied by participant. These areas included the reactions of surprise in others regarding them being single fathers, and an overall presence of informal support from family and friends but a lack of formal support. The fathers discussed their own coping behaviors, and told of varied experiences with dating. Lastly, despite these fathers' more androgynous identities, effects of traditional masculinity were observed in the form of gendered or racial commentary or emotional disengagement.;Even though these men find themselves in a world among college men, these single fathers do not identify with that world, nor even the world of traditional masculinity in many respects. The men in this study completely reject the world of the typical college guy. Of most importance, they very much embrace the positive space afforded to them through the identity of being a father. |
