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'It's Not Just About the Money': Non-resident Fathers' Perspectives on Paying Child Support
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 09:31 authored by Natalier, K, Hewitt, BThis article explores the question 'Why do fathers resist paying child support?' through interviews with 26 separated or divorced non-residential fathers in Australia. Drawing on Zelizer's typology we argue that the men in this study attempt to define child support as a gift - a payment that emphasizes the power and beneficence of the payer and the obligation of the receiver - but struggle to do so in legal and bureaucratic structures that position its receipt as an entitlement. The tension between child support as a gift and child support as entitlement is informed by gendered power over money, a key element of fathering in traditional and non-traditional family structures.The payment and non-payment of child support is used to reinforce the economic dimensions of fathering identities and define family relationships in remarkably traditional ways. © The Author(s) 2010.
History
Publication title
SociologyVolume
44Pagination
489-505ISSN
0038-0385Department/School
School of Social SciencesPublisher
Sage Publications LtdPlace of publication
6 Bonhill Street, London, England, Ec2A 4PuRights statement
Copyright 2010 The AuthorsRepository Status
- Restricted