Can Men "Mother"? Life as a Single Father

The present study addresses the policy questions which emerge when atten tion is focused on single fathers. A sample of 141 single fathers were surveyed about their experiences as homemakers, the nature of their father/child relationship, and overall role satisfaction. The major finding of this study was that most men felt comfortable and competent as single parents, regardless of the reason for custody or their financial status. Both economic status and reason for custody influenced the father/child relationship and the father's role satisfaction. Social service providers and policy specialists who work with single parents need to be aware that mothering is not an exclusively female skill.