Date of Award:

5-1973

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Human Development and Family Studies

Department name when degree awarded

Family and Child Development

Committee Chair(s)

C. Jay Skidmore

Committee

C. Jay Skidmore

Abstract

This study was designed to reveal the self perception of unwed fathers. Ten men participated in the project; nine of them were 25 years of age or younger. To measure self perception an instrument was constructed in the form of a questionnaire. Each unwed father was then interviewed to discover his perceptions, particularly as they relate to their common plight of unwed fatherhood.

The men perceived themselves as normal young Americans, and felt their conduct and intentions were in compliance with peer expectations. Some of the subjects responded to the interview with descriptive and detailed accounts while others were either unconcerned or hesitant and replied in few words. None of the men wanted to be recognized by society as the parent of an illegitimate child. Seven of the ten reported that they did not want any association with their child. Chastity of thought and behavior was not held in honor by a majority of the subjects; conversely, the men (with two exceptions) were looking for new sexual partners. Only two of the unwed fathers had employed some form of conception control while having sexual relations with the mothers involved and these two did not do so regularly. The men were not contributing to the support of their child on a consistent basis, indicating their lack of involvement in a situation in which they share equal responsibility with the child's mother.

The emergence of a clearer picture of the unwed father, through the attempt to reveal his interests, problems, and concerns, may assist in the development of strategies and programs to prevent illegitimacy and to effectively aid those involved in it. Perhaps this study of the self perception of unwed fathers will be helpful in this regard.

Checksum

803fdb0dd19307a84b812f5314c67c06

Download

Share

COinS

Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .