About

Modern Fatherhood is a place to examine the role of 21st century fathers at home and in the world of work. It’s the result of research collaboration between the National Centre for Social Research, the University of East Anglia and the Thomas Coram Research Unit funded by the ESRC. Although principally focused on fathers in the UK, also examines how the realities of fatherhood vary across Europe.

With the Government concerned about troubled families and the role of parents rarely out of the press, there’s never been a greater need for strong evidence about fathers.

Modern Fatherhood presents the first comprehensive analysis of fatherhood in the UK and focuses on the key themes of ‘who fathers are’, ‘fathers and work’ and ‘fathers and families’. Although principally focused on fathers in the UK, Modern Fatherhood also examines how the realities of fatherhood vary across Europe.

By improving our understanding of men’s diverse family and work roles, this information will help policy makers, employers and practitioners develop father friendly work-family policies and practices.

Modern Fatherhood was funded by the ESRC Secondary Data Analysis Initiative from 2012 to 2014. It involved analysis of data from four large-scale survey series: Understanding Society, the European Union Labour Force Survey, the European Social Survey and the British Household Panel Study.

Research team

Professor Margaret O’Brien, Emeritus Professor of Child and Family Policy
Thomas Coram Research Unit, University College London

Dr Svetlana Speight, Research Director
Centre for Children and Families, the National Centre for Social Research

Professor Sara Connolly, Professor of Personnel Economics
University of East Anglia

Dr Matthew Aldrich, Associate Professor of Microeconomics
University of East Anglia

Eloise Poole, formerly a Senior Researcher at the National Centre for Social Research