"Social Stratification and Primary Caregiving Fathers"
Jade Avelis, PhD Sociology and Gender Studies Graduate Minor Student
November 21 at Noon in 119 O’Shaughnessy
Abstract: The number of primary caregiving fathers or “stay-at-home” dads has nearly tripled in the last four decades, warranting study of these men and their experiences. Previous research about these men generally finds that they are fulfilled by and enjoy their caregiving role. However, virtually all of this research is exclusively about white, college-educated, middle class men. Given the limits of these samples, what we actually know about the full population of at-home fathers is quite circumscribed. Previous research on working class family life provides numerous reasons that one’s position in the social strata can affect attitudes toward caregiving, especially the extent to which one is satisfied in the caregiving role. The omission of working class men from previous studies is a significant oversight. This project asks to what extent, if at all, does social class impact the experiences of primary caregiving fathers. By conducting in-person interviews with white, black, and Latino working class men in the Philadelphia area, I find that social class does impact the lives of these fathers, especially their ideas about gender, how they came to the caregiving role, and attitudes toward their position in the family.
Bio: Jade is in her sixth year of studies at Notre Dame. Her primary research areas are gender, marriage and family, religion, social psychology, and work-nonwork balance. Her dissertation investigates the experiences of men who are the primary caregivers for their children, specifically how social class impacts their experiences. She is conducting research with Jessica Collett on graduate students' knowledge of work-life balance of professors and how feelings of impostorism are related to graduate students' career goals. Jade is also working with Nicolette Manglos-Weber on projects about the role of subjectivity in resilience to stressful events and how young adults understand their relationship with God. Before coming to Notre Dame, Jade graduated from the John Wesley Honors College at Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008.
In order to advance the program’s commitment to inter-disciplinary research and inquiry into the subject of gender, the Gender Studies Program is pleased to announce an upcoming series of research workshops. The events will include presentations by advanced undergraduates majoring in Gender Studies as well as graduate students and faculty members from a variety of departments who work in the area of gender and sexuality. The workshop will begin with the week’s presenter giving a brief lecture on his or her current research in the field, followed by a seminar-style discussion.
Workshops are held on Fridays from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in 119 O’Shaughnessy unless otherwise specified below.
If you would like to reserve a date for a presentation at one of the Research Workshops please contact either of our Research Workshop coordinators: Angel Matos or Beatriz Carrillo.