Exploring the Role of Computer-Aided Work in Men's Interactions with Their Children

In an age where the use of wireless technology is increasing in most domains of society, this paper discusses the relations between work arrangements that adopt computer technology as a flexibility-aiding tool on one hand, and the work-life interface on the other. Through in-depth interviews, we explore how men’s interactions with their children are shaped under such work arrangements. Early findings would suggest a heterogeneous map of variable usage regarding computer-based tools as work flexibility enablers. Differences in father involvement would be highly explained by work type, housework-load distribution, perceived partner support, actual work-life balance micropolicies and practices in the workplace, and men’s personal motivation. While some individuals seem to effectively use ICTs as an aid for their involvement in child rearing, others are as involved regardless of computer usage. A relevant counterintuitive finding is that computer literacy is not necessarily linked to the actual usage of computer tools for work flexibility.

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