Acknowledgements One: Introduction Locating service provision issues within contemporary political developments Locating this book: theoretically (and political) speaking Aims and structure Two: The contemporary context Introduction Change, continuity and diversity Work and care Fathers are doing what? Fathers, violence and abuse A brief look at the implications for practice Conclusion Three: The historical context Introduction Images, roles, responsibilities From rights to duties to responsibilities: fathers 'unmade' Conclusion Four: Freud and his legacy Introduction The 'daddy' of them all It's ready mummy who counts 'Return' to the father The feminist return to mummy and daddy, or maybe not? Recent developments in 'mainstream' psychoanalysis: refinement and critique Poststructuralists: deconstructing the father? Conclusion Five: Psychological perspectives Introduction The background Developmental psychology: truth or norm? The child, the mother and attachment anxieties The 'role' of the father in child development: beyond developmental psychology Impact of father involvement on children 'Critical' psychologies Conclusion Six: Sociological perspectives Introduction The 'role' of the father Sociology and family journeys Family practices and intimacy: what about fathers? Sociology and fathers: future directions? Conclusion Seven: The politics of fatherhood: contemporary developments Introduction Categorising the politics of masculinity: where do fathers fit? Why are men getting involved? Decoding their calls and claims Feminism and fathers' groups Discussion Conclusion Eight: Contemporary social policies Introduction Policy matters New Labour: from welfare to investment 'Distant' fathers Rights, responsibilities and fathers Antisocial behaviour and the Respect agenda Child support New Labour, fathers and the 'democratic' family Some comparative insights Conclusion Nine: Working with fathers Introduction Setting the scene Fathers Matter: round 1 Dads talk about services Constructions of fathers, mothers and children But what did mothers say? Fathers Matter: round 2 Survey of education Discussion Reflections on Complexity in a context of denial Conclusion Ten: Reflections on a decade of working with fathers Meeting fathers: a learning process Engaging fathers: policy and practice Conclusion Eleven: Concluding remarks References Index.