How and Why Social Work Fails Fathers: Redressing an Imbalance, Social Work's Role and Responsibility

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the ways in which fathers have been, and are, depicted in social work literature from theory to training materials and across a range of policy and practice documents. It argues that there is a pervasive and influential negative attitude towards fathers, particularly in the children and families field. The paper identifies and discusses the reasons for this and concludes with practice pointers for the greater involvement of fathers.