Library Portal | UWC Portal | National ETDs | Global ETDs
    • Login
    Contact Us | About Us | FAQs | Login
    View Item 
    •   DSpace Home
    • Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    • Social Work
    • Research Articles (Social Work)
    • View Item
    •   DSpace Home
    • Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    • Social Work
    • Research Articles (Social Work)
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The effects of biological fathers’ incarceration on adolescent children and the challenges of absentee biological fathers

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Londt_The-effects_2017.pdf (1.610Mb)
    Date
    2017
    Author
    Londt, Marcel P.
    Kock, Martine
    John-Langba, Johannes
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    In western cultures, invested in a discourse of heteronormativity, biological fathers are the ‘breadwinners’ of families, and mothers, the ‘caregivers’. In societies with this dominant discourse, the traditional family structures discourage fathers from being involved parents. However, criminological and psychological fields acknowledge that incarcerating biological fathers distresses families, especially children. Research on incarcerated fathers consistently demonstrates the harmful effects of incarceration on children across many developmental outcomes. This paper explores the damage of paternal incarceration and its effect on adolescent children. Attachment Theory is the primary theoretical framework applied, with a qualitative research approach, and a purposive sampling method. Fourteen biological fathers, incarcerated for various offences, were interviewed in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, five of the incarcerated fathers’ adolescent children participated in the study. In-depth interviews were conducted with the fathers and focus groups undertaken with the adolescents. The findings indicated intersections with adolescent deviant behaviours, parental incarceration, and the absence of paternal parenting roles/responsibilities. Additionally, the fathers struggled to maintain their role as ’fathers’, after incarceration, as they were excluded from family decision- making, and their children’s development. The adolescent children were also emotionally affected by the stigma of an imprisoned father. They experienced feelings of abandonment and yearned for the father-child relationship during adolescence. In addition, the incarcerated fathers faced challenges with the demands of survival in prison, and elected to adopt a ‘criminal mind-set’, to blend in. Penitentiary conditions, and ‘criminal’ activities, often superseded any family obligations, where support, contributions, or participation in decision-making was required. Ultimately, the importance of joint decision-making, caregiving and parenting, for the children’s optimum development, was revealed, with suggestions for interventions. Incarceration of biological fathers has specific consequences for the whole family, especially adolescent children. The social patterning of repression, negatively affects the incarcerated and their families, who are mere bystanders.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-c37737e44
    http://hdl.handle.net/10566/3927
    Collections
    • Research Articles (Social Work)

    DSpace 6.3 | Ubuntu | Copyright © University of the Western Cape
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of DSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    DSpace 6.3 | Ubuntu | Copyright © University of the Western Cape
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV