ABSTRACT
A great deal of contemporary social policy and research on young people has focused on young women who become mothers whilst in their teenage years (Hudson and Ineichen, 1991; Allen and Dowling, 1998; SEU, 1999, 2003; Tabberer et al., 2000; Swann, 2003). Although these studies acknowledge the role of the father of the child, men are most often seen in their capacities as supporters of and to the young women. In addition, studies often include perspectives on the father ‘through the eyes of the mother’ (Reeves, 2005) relying on her partiality regarding his role and involvement (Corlyon and McGuire, 1997; Reeves, 2003). Few studies to date have considered the specific views of the father especially fathers who are still legally children themselves (Quinton et al., 2002).
