“We’re Not ‘Baby Daddies’ We Are Fathers. Dads.”: Nonresidential Fathers’ Online Stigma Management

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Schambach, E. (2021). “We’re Not ‘Baby Daddies’ We Are Fathers. Dads.”: Nonresidential Fathers’ Online Stigma Management. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Family and stigma communication research have barely scratched the surface of the dynamic and diverse arrangements of stigma in the family context. Though some research has investigated the stigma surrounding nontraditional family structures (e.g., adoptive families, same-gender parents), some populations have been neglected. Specifically, the lack of focus on nonresidential fathers is a substantial oversight in academic research. This thesis examines how nonresidential fathers communicate online about the stigma they face. It sheds light on this population's stigma management strategies through a thematic analysis of public online forums written by nonresidential fathers. This study reveals that fathers participate in facework, stigma management, and community formation when communicating online about the stigma they face. The results of this study have implications for communication studies as a field and applications for the dissolution of stigma in social and legal contexts.

Details
Author

Schambach, Emma

Title

“We’re Not ‘Baby Daddies’ We Are Fathers. Dads.”: Nonresidential Fathers’ Online Stigma Management

Physical Description

1 online resource (87 pages) : PDF

Date

2021

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Family and stigma communication research have barely scratched the surface of the dynamic and diverse arrangements of stigma in the family context. Though some research has investigated the stigma surrounding nontraditional family structures (e.g., adoptive families, same-gender parents), some populations have been neglected. Specifically, the lack of focus on nonresidential fathers is a substantial oversight in academic research. This thesis examines how nonresidential fathers communicate online about the stigma they face. It sheds light on this population's stigma management strategies through a thematic analysis of public online forums written by nonresidential fathers. This study reveals that fathers participate in facework, stigma management, and community formation when communicating online about the stigma they face. The results of this study have implications for communication studies as a field and applications for the dissolution of stigma in social and legal contexts.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Communication

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Family Communication
Law
Nonresidential Fathers
Online Communication
Stigma
Stigma Management

Subject Area

Communication Studies

Advisor(s)

Basinger, Erin

Committee Members

Quinlan, Margaret
Grandinetti, Justin

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2021.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Schambach_uncc_0694N_12802

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2574