The Lived Experiences of African American Males With Absent Fathers: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of African American males who grew up with absent fathers and how this affected them in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods in the rural and urban areas of Chesapeake, Virginia. The theories guiding this study are Bandura's Social Learning Theory, Vygotsky's social learning theory and Bowlby’s attachment theory. These theories explain cognitive development and the influence of social interaction on children’s attitudes and emotional reactions. The theories also explain the role of observation in social interaction and cognitive development, as both explain how cognitive development is influenced by social interaction influences as well as how a child’s emotional reaction and attitude is impacted by observation, specifically of others. The literature review focuses on the challenges experienced by African American males with absent fathers and how the phenomenon impacts various aspects of their lives, including social, psychological, emotional, and behavioral. The literature reviewed is within ten years, and each article presents information on the phenomenon under study. Financial and emotional challenges are excellent examples of the challenges resulting from having no father in the home. When the fathers are absent, the mothers take up the responsibility and act as both father and mother. Many African males who grow up without a father in the home end up successful due to their mother’s resilience and support. However, emotional and socioeconomic challenges are eminent for adult men who grew up without their fathers because of issues such as education and lack of mentorship. Understanding the phenomenon allows for the development of coping strategies. Keywords: Absent fathers, Fatherlessness, African American males, father absenteeism, paternal involvement, non-resident fathers, fatherhood.