Becoming a Young Father: A Decision or an “Accident”?

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the question of intentionality when young men become fathers. While research in social sciences has shed light on who young fathers are and has considered various issues such as their ability to raise children, their involvement with their children, and their commitment to their partner, we have forgotten to ask how fatherhood entered their life. Research has supported the hypothesis that a desire for pregnancy exists among precocious mothers; this same issue is addressed in the current study with a sample of 30 young men who fathered a child with women under the age of 20 in Quebec, Canada. Data were collected from interviews and socio-demographic questionnaires and were analyzed with a special focus on comparing results with a similar study of young mothers. Results showed that a desire to become a father may have been present to some degree among the participants. These findings challenge the thesis of the accident as the only way to understand how young men become fathers.