Gendered Negotiations of Unemployment. A Qualitative Interview Study With Turkish Fathers in Germany and Türkiye

This qualitative study examines how unemployed Turkish fathers in Germany and Türkiye navigate their paternal identities amidst shifting gender roles and socioeconomic challenges. Based on 21 in-depth interviews, four distinct masculinity types were identified: disappointed, religious, playful, and stay-at-home fatherhood. These identity patterns transcend national borders and socioeconomic status, suggesting a transnational cultural continuity among Turkish fathers. While unemployment challenges the traditional breadwinner ideal, it also provides opportunities for alternative constructions of fatherhood through caregiving, community engagement, or religious devotion. Findings highlight how unemployment can lead to either heightened vulnerability or the development of adaptive new identities. Clear differences emerge between Germany and Türkiye in response to their different social welfare systems. While there is strong dissatisfaction with state support in Türkiye and fathers are often dependent on financial support from their families, the situation in Germany allows fathers to enjoy greater satisfaction with their lives and to develop alternative identities. Future research should incorporate the perspectives of spouses and children to better understand the broader family dynamics of unemployment.