Daddy Dearest? Active fatherhood and public policy

Fatherhood matters. Fathers can improve the life chances of their children. They can improve the circumstances and experiences of mothers. And being a father can enhance the wellbeing of men. For all these reasons, fatherhood is a direct and appropriate concern of public policy.

As women's participation in the paid labour market has increased and family structures have changed, fatherhood has gained momentum as a political issue. Daddy Dearest? makes the case for reassessing public policy in relation to fatherhood, bringing together expert authors in the field.

Among the issues examined are:

• barriers in the workplace and in families to more active fatherhood
• parents' relationships and outcomes for children
• fathers' changing aspirations and expectations
• the changing structure of care within families.