The role of information resources in young fathers' parenting experiences

Young fathers are frequently stigmatized as absentee and uninvolved in parenting. Although recent research has highlighted the need to develop programs and services specifically for this population, little consideration has been given to the kind of information young fathers would like to obtain, or the barriers inherent in existing programs and information resources. This research, which is part of a longitudinal ethnographic study conducted at young parent and pregnancy outreach programs in two Canadian cities, examined the ways in which young fathers are excluded from parenting resources and services. In this paper, we used content analysis to analyse photographs of information resources at study sites, e.g., parenting books, pamphlets, and posters advertising local events and services. Findings showed that the presentation of information is gendered and targeted at young mothers, thus serving as a form of exclusion for young fathers. These results, situated in the context of (young) parents' information practices, show that intentions to support young fathers must address issues of representation and audience in the design and delivery of parenting information.