@profatarrant
Professor of Sociology UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, Following Young Fathers Further Chair of Trustees of the North East Young Dads and Lads Research, education and training about father-inclusive practice and policy https://followingyoungfathersfurther.org
Many social problems are blamed on 'fatherlessness'. But if fathers aren't present, where are they? @profatarrant.bsky.social explains how our social structures - such as inadequate housing, jobs, social security & parenting support - are obstructing engaged fatherhood: nowandmen.net/episode/anna...
Last week I submitted the MS of a very special edited collection with to @policypress.bsky.social
14 chapters about young fathers conducted in the US, UK, South Africa, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and Peru
Further updates on the book when we have them!
Episode 61 of the Now and Men podcast with Prof Anna Tarrant
Fathers on low incomes & young dads are often portrayed as 'failing', & father absence blamed for a 'crisis of masculinity'. Yet many are seeking to care for their children despite the hurdles, so how can we support them? @profatarrant.bsky.social explains on #NowandMen nowandmen.net/episode/anna...
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An issue here is these data aren’t easily available; data collection on paternity more generally is really flawed and requires more attention. It would be great to see a depth methodological study examining this.
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/defaul...
Thanks Ros, definitely not a point I was making
When we dismiss years of careful research because it lacks a national headcount, we're not being rigorous, we're being reductive.
The question we should be asking isn't just 'How many?' but 'What counts as knowing’?
Qualitative research isn't a consolation prize for when we can't get 'real' numbers. It's a different way of knowing; one that captures complexity, context, and meaning that statistics alone cannot provide.
The paradox is demanding precise answers to questions we haven't sought to measure. We want to know 'how many' before we ask 'who they are', 'what they need', or 'how we can support them'; letting the absence of one type of data eclipse the presence of another, often more relevant form of knowledge
This reveals something fundamental about what we've come to accept as evidence in that quantitative data are still being considered the most useful form of evidence that counts; that scale cross nationally is still prioritised over scale temporally.
A ten-year programme of qualitative knowledge, rich with insight into young fathers' lived experiences, needs, and perspectives, is deemed insufficient because it can't be reduced to a single quantifiable figure or because the sample size (44 is large for a qual study) is considered inadequate
When I explain that we don't collect this data systematically and can only offer estimates, I increasingly watch my research get sidelined (there is an identified Dad Data gap as the The Fatherhood Institute reports).
This won't surprise many qualitative researchers but despite spending over a decade conducting extensive qualitative longitudinal research with and for young fathers, the first question from media and government stakeholders is always the same: How many young fathers are there nationally?
I'm recently noticing a pattern emerging in how my research on young fathers gets received and whether or not it is deemed to ‘count’ and have impact.
A short thread 🧵🧵🧵
School of Social & Political Sciences is launching an online short course An Introduction to Supporting Fathers and Male Caregivers led by @profatarrant.bsky.social. 28th January 2026, 09:30 – 12:30, £75 per person. Scan the QR code or email OAS@lincoln.ac.uk.
A few thoughts on the BBC Three Forgotten Young Fathers documentary! It was a pleasure to consult with the BBC on the show and to see Joshua of the North East Young Dads and Lads being such a great ambassador as always!
fyff.co.uk/blog/forgott...
Read more about the longest ever running study of young fathers: lnkd.in/ei3NxHuR
Watch and read more about our co-creation content with young fathers of the North East Young Dads and Lads and the Young Dads Collective:
lnkd.in/eAX2Bk6Y
lnkd.in/ehvnSjqv
lnkd.in/eaNDKk5A
Joe Swash on Forgotten Young Fathers: lnkd.in/eec-H9wz
Watch tomorrow! lnkd.in/eRA3Wak8
The most amazing thing our research consistently shows, is that young dads themselves are the best advocates for them and their children; for celebrating and raising awareness about their fatherhood, addressing stigma and stereotypes, and educating others about how to engage and support them better
Yet they feel sidelined or considered a risk when they encounter services and systems that should support them. What we need are father-inclusive services, universal and specialist, that are available nationally. Lack of funding, political apathy and fragmented support systems are hard to resolve.
We see just how strong their bonds with their children are. They want to be there for their children but they're doing so while navigating education and employment systems, housing policies, and family support services that weren't designed with them, as young men and as caregivers, in mind.
Tomorrow evening, Joe Swash's documentary 'Forgotten Young Dads', featuring the North East Young Dads and Lads, premiers. In BBC coverage Joe Swash says he felt 'completely unsupported' as a young father, voicing what our research with them has consistently shown over the past decade.
Wow, thank you so much Lisa!!
Thank you Ros!
Proud of my School of Social & Political Sciences colleague Professor Anna Tarrant @profatarrant.bsky.social who has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. This honour reflects her outstanding transformative research. More details are available here: acss.org.uk/news/the-aca...
Authored by @profatarrant.bsky.social,
@drlinziladlow.bsky.social& Dr Laura Way, the chapter explores how young fathers in the UK narrate their experiences and understanding of fathering,fatherhood and co-parenting in the context of recent cultural and generational shifts towards engaged fatherhood
We offer a sociological and longitudinal analysis of young fathers' mental health trajectories from pregnancy, birth and beyond to highlight the joys and challenges of a stigmatised form of parenthood and one that is sorely under-represented and lacking support.
To learn more about what works in being father-inclusive sign up to our website for key resources and ideas here: fatherinclusion.org
Where fatherhood can be predictive of mental ill-health it can also be protective and enable (young) men to invest in an identity and sets of relationships that are grounded in love, care and compassion.
