Taking fathers seriously

This article explores contemporary developments in men's lives in relation to fathering. It explores ‘changing’ family structures and the attendant consequences for the lives and identities of fathers. It identifies key initiatives that have been developed by the post-1997 Labour administration in relation to fathers and explores the thinking behind such initiatives, as well as more general initiatives in relation to supporting families. It identifies an important theme promoted by the administration—fathers are actual or potential resources for their children. It then goes on to look at how fathers appear to be constructed within child protection social work where notions of threat appear more dominant as a theme in relation to men generally. The article goes on to explore the possibilities within the current climate for practices in relation to fathers that are more attuned to the complexities of their lives.