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The Fathers' Rights Movement

Contradictions in Rhetoric and Practice

University of Windsor

JANICE DRAKICH

University of Windsor

Family law reforms brought about a new social movement and lobby group—fathers' rights. This article, based on a 2-year study involving participant observation, ethnographic interviews, and document analysis examines the contradictions between the public and private rhetoric of fathers rightists. Thirty-two members from four fathers' rights groups were interviewed about their postdivorce parenting experiences, their personal troubles with family law practices, and their posturing on the fathers' rights' platform. The fatherhood project of family law reform, although viewed as serving all fathers, is primarily driven by fathers' personal stake in the issues and the hope of changing their current situation. The fathers in this study presented a uniform voice in support of the fathers' rights' public image of caring fathers who want men to be recognized as fathers and who are requesting equitable treatment in matters of child custody, support, and access. However, the interviews revealed that individual members did not support the full application of the concept of equality in postdivorce parenting, child care, and responsibilities.

Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 14, No. 4, 592-615 (1993)
DOI: 10.1177/019251393014004007


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