This book develops a new sociology of the intergenerational and longitudinal dynamics of men’s family participation in relation to their trajectories through poverty. By addressing the ostensible absence of men from low-income families in existing literature and policy, the authors interrogate the interconnectedness of poverty, family, and place while paying explicit attention to the trajectories of men through and across low-income families and localities. Through qualitative secondary analysis of four linked datasets from research within low-income families over a twenty-year period, Hughes and Tarrant argue that there is much to be gained from examining both men’s accounts of family and poverty across the lifecourse and the accounts of men experiencing family poverty. In so doing, they develop a new theoretical family lifecourse framework that accounts for the dynamic and place-based character of poverty and its implication for families. Thus, the book foregrounds the development of a more comprehensive sociology of family poverty.
Author(s): Kahryn Hughes, Anna Tarrant
Series: Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 273
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
About the Authors
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Tracing Men’s Longitudinal Trajectories in Low-income Families
Introduction: Poverty and Partial Accounts of Men
The Longitudinal Dynamics of Poverty and Family
Theorising Longitudinal Family Poverty and QSA
Why an Empirical Focus on Men in Low-income Families?
Our Work: A Brief History
The Data and Methodological Innovation: Qualitative Secondary Analysis
Substantive and Theoretical Contributions
Overview of the Book
References
Chapter 2: Men in Poverty in Families: Missing or a Case of Smoke and Mirrors?
Introduction
Poverty in the UK
The Longitudinal Dynamics of Poverty
Men’s Participation in Low-income Families: A Case of Smoke and Mirrors
Theories of Families and Poverty
Men in Families: Social Sciences Perspectives
Men, Families, and Social Policy: Men in the Margins
Conclusion: Marginalising Low-income Men in Families
References
Chapter 3: Qualitative Secondary Analysis: Establishing a theoretical family lifecourse framework
Introduction
Qualitative Data Reuse and the Possibilities of Data Archives
Methods of Qualitative Secondary Analysis
Establishing Analytic Complementarity
Place as a Case
Developing a Family Lifecourse Framework
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: Women’s Accounts of Men in Low-income Families
Introduction
A Brief Overview of the Cases
Partners and Ex-partners: Disrupting ‘Angels’ and ‘Demons’ Narratives
Making a Case for Multigenerational Perspectives: Dads and Sons
Uncles, Brothers, and Other Relatives
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Men as Fathers and Providers
Introduction
A Brief Overview of the Cases
Bob’s Case: Partnering, (Un)employment and Provisioning
Victor’s Case: Repartnering, Resourcing, and Moral Guardianship
Men, Family Participation, and Provisioning
Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: Men in the System: ‘Rescue and Repair’ Through Kinship Caring
Introduction
Kinship Care
Sam and Geoff: Grandparent Kinship Carers
A Brief Overview of the Cases
Sam’s Case: ‘Rescue and Repair’ Grandparent Kinship Care
Geoff’s Case: From Grandparent to Kinship Carer
Men as (Grandparent) Kinship Carers
Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: The Limits of Family for Men in Poverty
Introduction
A Brief Overview of the Cases
Men’s Exclusion from Families: Husbands/Partners and Fathers
Sheila and Ben: Excluding Men from Families
Joe’s Case: Men’s Exclusion from Families: Sons and Welfare
Discussion
References
Chapter 8: Conclusion: Trajectories of Families Through Poverty
Introduction
Advancing Existing Debate: Beyond ‘Absent’ Men
Men as Partners/Husbands and Fathers: the ‘In/Out’ Character of Low-income Men’s Family Participation
Men as Kinship Carers: Longitudinal and Intergenerational Hardship and Higher Levels of Kinship Care
The Volatility of Hardship in the Lifecourse Trajectories of Men and Women
Towards a ‘New’ Sociology of Family Poverty
Doing Families
Poverty for Men
Poverty for Women
Socio-economic Decline and Change
The ‘Ordering’ of Families Through Poverty
Violence and Family Poverty
Cautions
Methodology and Slow Scholarship: The Value of QSA and Our Iterative Programme of Work
A Legacy for Recovering Men in Low-income Contexts Through QSA
References
References
Index
