Involving nonresident Lithuanian fathers in child-rearing : the negative impact of income inequalities and sociolegal policies

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Kohabitacija; Lietuvos socialinė politika; Nesusituokus; Skyrybos; Tėvystė; Cohabitation; Divorce; Fatherhood; Lithuanian social policy.

ENUsing nationally representative data on nonresident fathers, this study examines father–child contact and child support payments in Lithuania. We focus on previously married and cohabiting fathers whose parenting rights and obligations are organized differently by Lithuanian legislation. Our findings demonstrate that previously cohabiting fathers’ involvement in child-rearing is more significantly associated with levels of individual income resources rather than family formation type. We argue that legal uncertainties linked to nonmarital fatherhood reinforce the inequalities of men’s paternal rights and place previously cohabiting fathers, particularly with low socioeconomic resources, in disadvantaged positions. Moreover, we argue based on international evidence that universal social policies to support fathers’ social citizenship rights before separation and across household or family types, including greater individualization of Lithuania’s generous parental leave provisions, would encourage father–child contact for low socioeconomic fathers following cohabitation dissolution and reduce traditional male-breadwinning barriers to father–child contact. [From the publication]

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