Finding the ties that bind: Beyond headship and household

Abstract

The last decade has seen renewed research and policy attention to the issue of female-headed and -maintained households in developing countries. This paper takes stock of the knowledge gained and the lessons learned from the rapidly growing body of literature on households and for the purpose of outlining a new research and policy focus on the family. The first half of the paper combines a review of recent literature on female-headed and -maintained families and a reanalysis of newly available data on family circumstances and the living arrangements of women and children. The evidence presented leads the authors to conclude that headship alone cannot be used as a policy tool for identifying vulnerable households women and children or indeed for isolating the main sources of their support. The second half of the paper draws out lessons for future research priorities and population and development policy. The paper proposes a new research focus on the family that transcends the physical and temporal boundaries of the household and a policy focus that inquires into meaningful family relationships. Special emphasis is placed on the specification and support of parenting roles--particularly fathering roles--in fulfilling the social and economic needs of children. (authors)

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