The Responsibilities of Fatherhood as Perceived by African American Teenage Fathers

The experience of adolescent fatherhood was explored through in-depth interviews. Ten African American teenage fathers from a midwestern city were asked to describe what being a father meant to them. The subjects discussed their perceptions of fatherhood and described some of the obstacles to meeting their paternal aspirations. Key themes included the subjects' desire to be actively involved with their children and the critical influence of the subjects' experiences with their own fathers. Strategies for working with adolescent fathers are also presented.