Overview
Over the past six decades, there have been dramatic changes in the dynamics of family life in the United States. Today, about half of all babies born to mothers under the age of 25 will not live with their fathers for much of their childhood. From the perspective of many social scientists and politicians, this change has wreaked havoc on society by trapping women and children in poverty and loosening the civilizing bond between men and their families. But what is causing the phenomenon? Some place blame at the feet of the young men themselves, together with eroding cultural and family values. Others point to systemic failures in our economy or social support programs. Rather than assign blame, the first goal of Lost and Found is to tell the stories of young men as they struggle (with varying degrees of success) to become fathers. The second goal is to outline a strategy for helping young fathers remain constructively involved with their partners and children. Drawing from their research with over 1,000 young parents in Chicago and Salt Lake City, Paul Florsheim and David Moore focus on a group of about 20 young fathers, whose stories-conveyed in their own words-help the reader make sense of what is happening to fatherhood in America. Having interviewed young fathers and their partners before and after their children were born, these accounts provide a dynamic perspective on the development of young men and their relationships. Young mothers-the partners of these young men-both corroborate and sometimes offer alternative or contradictory perspectives. Oriented to undo stereotypes, the authors introduce the notion of ""good-enough"" fathering, tempering the tendency to think simply in terms of good or bad fathers. They go on to provide concrete recommendations for strengthening fathers' roles and helping young fathers and mothers create stable home environments for their children, whether the parents are together or not.
Full Product Details
Author: Paul Florsheim (Professor, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) ,
David Moore (Professor, Professor, University of Puget Sound)
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:
Width: 23.90cm
, Height: 4.10cm
, Length: 16.50cm
Weight: 0.703kg
ISBN: 9780190865016
ISBN 10: 0190865016
Pages: 432
Publication Date: 20 February 2020
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
""In Lost and Found, Florsheim and Moore provide a pragmatic, even-handed, treatment of how struggling young men approach the unplanned transition to fatherhood. The authors provide us ample reason to hope that most young men deeply desire to be fully involved in the lives of their children, although they do not sugar-coat the challenges they face to achieving their aspirations. Florsheim and Moore provide an intimate portrait of how some fathers overcome the odds and find strong identities as good (and ""good-enough"") fathers and why some lose their way. Refreshingly, the authors give mothers a leading role in their book as the key players in the challenging dramas of how new parents strive to build stable families for the sake of their children.ELWhether ultimately you agree or disagree with their recommendations, if you are looking for a comprehensive and fair treatment of contemporary young fatherhood, this is the book for you."" -Alan J. Hawkins, PhD, Brigham Young University ""This book is a welcome addition to the literature on fathers. Readers will obtain an understanding not only of the challenges and joys facing adolescent fathers but also how adolescent fathering manifests in the context of the changing family institution, race, gender, and social class. The authors provide a wonderful inside view of how clinicians and educators can work with young fathers and mothers."" -- Jay Fagan, PhD, MSW, Professor, School of Social Work, Temple University
This book is a welcome addition to the literature on fathers. Readers will obtain an understanding not only of the challenges and joys facing adolescent fathers but also how adolescent fathering manifests in the context of the changing family institution, race, gender, and social class. The authors provide a wonderful inside view of how clinicians and educators can work with young fathers and mothers. * Jay Fagan, PhD, MSW, Professor, School of Social Work, Temple University *
In Lost and Found, Florsheim and Moore provide a pragmatic, even-handed, treatment of how struggling young men approach the unplanned transition to fatherhood. The authors provide us ample reason to hope that most young men deeply desire to be fully involved in the lives of their children, although they do not sugar-coat the challenges they face to achieving their aspirations. Florsheim and Moore provide an intimate portrait of how some fathers overcome the odds and find strong identities as good (and good-enough ) fathers and why some lose their way. Refreshingly, the authors give mothers a leading role in their book as the key players in the challenging dramas of how new parents strive to build stable families for the sake of their children.ELWhether ultimately you agree or disagree with their recommendations, if you are looking for a comprehensive and fair treatment of contemporary young fatherhood, this is the book for you. -Alan J. Hawkins, PhD, Brigham Young University This book is a welcome addition to the literature on fathers. Readers will obtain an understanding not only of the challenges and joys facing adolescent fathers but also how adolescent fathering manifests in the context of the changing family institution, race, gender, and social class. The authors provide a wonderful inside view of how clinicians and educators can work with young fathers and mothers. -- Jay Fagan, PhD, MSW, Professor, School of Social Work, Temple University
Author Information
Paul Florsheim, PhD, is a Professor in the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he continues to work with young fathers and their families. Trained as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Florsheim's primary research interests include the interpersonal developmental processes across the transition to parenthood and the prevention and treatment of mental illness in adolescents. His research on young families has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Population Affairs, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. David Moore, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Puget Sound. Dr. Moore has authored multiple publications in the areas of teen parenting, adolescent and adult development, and romantic relationships. In addition to teaching and conducting research, Dr. Moore maintains a private clinical practice specializing in psychotherapy with individuals as well as both married and unmarried couples.
