Transitions on the Margins of Work and Family Life for Low-Income African-American Fathers

Few studies explore linked transitions in work and family life for low-income African-American men. I examine patterns of work engagement among three cohorts of fathers and explore how they shape transitions in family residence and dynamics of family life. Establishment of a household was considered a shared project with partners and extended kin networks. Findings indicated that most fathers nested residence in households within sporadic spells of employment. Younger cohorts were less able to secure stable work and family arrangements at early ages, in comparison to older and middle cohorts. Implications for social policy include recognition of family formation beyond marital status, including negotiation of household establishment and arrangements for multiple providers in extended kin networks.This study was conducted with support from the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development R03 HD42074-2 to Kevin M. Roy and the Purdue Research Foundation at Purdue University in West Lafayette.