Yukon Single Fathers Research Project

Hello Yukon!! I just posted the final summary report of my research. Here is the link to the summary report that can be found in my YukonU Scholar page!
Link to the report:

https://scholar.yukonu.ca/sshareef/wp-admin/post.php...

Please have a look at the report. I am very proud of the single fathers who participated in the survey project. Great information emerged about the single fathers in Yukon. I am now looking for single fathers who are interested to take part in interview with me to talk about their overall experiences being single fathers in Yukon. Please reach out to me if you are interested in this next step of the project:

[email protected]

Looking forward to hearing from you all ! And thank you again for helping me to do this survey, the first of it's kind in Yukon and pretty much in Canada.

Hello all, I am excited to tell you that we have finally prepared the summary report of my research project! Here is the summary report:
Title: Single fathers of Yukon and their social, legal, and economic Experiences: A sociological survey
First of its kind in Yukon and Canada, this sociological survey explores the lived experiences of 36 single fathers residing in Yukon, Canada. Drawing on both closed and open-ended responses, the data provides insights into the social, legal, and economic realities faced by single fathers in a northern context largely absent from mainstream policy and public debate. Participants were recruited through Facebook, What’s Up Yukon, and local radio (RUSH 96.1, CBC).
Social experience: Living mostly in Whitehorse and a small number in outlying communities, single fathers reported raising one to three children, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, primarily following separation or divorce. A significant majority expressed that current parenting support services—such as family counselling, early childhood programs, and community initiatives—are often designed with mothers in mind, making fathers feel socially invisible and unsupported. The lack of father-focused programs and peer networks was a recurring concern in Whitehorse and remote areas.
Legal experience: The survey revealed different types of custody arrangements. While several fathers achieved joint legal or physical custody through private agreements (these fathers are mostly higher educated with high income jobs), many had to navigate the family court system. Participants who interacted with the legal system often perceived it as biased against fathers, citing high legal costs, limited legal aid, and a lack of accessible information about their rights. These barriers were felt more acutely by those living outside of Whitehorse.
Economic experience: The findings illustrate financial struggles experienced by many Yukon single fathers. While most respondents were employed full-time, nearly half reported household incomes below $70,000 per year or less, which, considering Yukon's high cost of living, render many financially vulnerable. Childcare responsibilities compounded these challenges, as did a lack of flexible employment options. Almost all report a lack of government financial support.
Overall, this study highlights the urgent need to include single fathers in policy framework, service planning, educational and community support strategies. Single fathers are very proud and resilient but invisible from institutional support and public/policy discourse. More responsive, targeted, and equitable solutions are critical to safeguard their and the children’s well-being in Yukon.

More information coming soon! Thank you.

Hello Yukon single fathers, only few hours left before the Yukon Single Fathers survey closes at 11.45 pm, tonight! Please join the survey if you have not already. All single fathers, fathers with partners, and communities overall, thank you for your support.

Hello single fathers of Yukon, the survey will close tonight at 11.30-11.59 pm! Please join the survey if you have not already. We really need your voice and opinion to be heard. Those who have done the survey, a huge thank you from me.
Thank you.

Hello Yukon single fathers. I really appreciate your participation in the single fathers research project! A million thanks to those who have already done the survey. For those who were not able to do it for many reasons, please do know I have extended the survey until October 2, 11.30 pm!
Please join us in these last two days of the survey and let's build a strong case for us, the single fathers in Yukon!
Thank you.

Hello Yukon single fathers. I really appreciate your participation in the single fathers research project! A million thanks to those who have already done the survey. For those who were not able to do it for many reasons, please do know I have extended the survey until October 2, 11.30 pm!
Please join us in these last two days of the survey and let's build a strong case for us, the single fathers in Yukon!
Thank you.

Hello Yukon single fathers, hope you are enjoying the gorgeous Fall long weekends! FYI, I have extended the single fathers research survey by two more days! So, now the last day for participating in the survey is October 2, by 11.30 pm ( survey automotacillay closes at 11.59 pm). Those who have already participated, thank you so much. Those who started the survey but had to go in the middle, you can always come back now to finish the survey if you would like ( you will start again from where you left last time).
AND THOSE WHO ARE HUNTING, GOOD LUCK!
THANK YOU.

Hello Yukon! Please join Dr. Shawkat Shareef tomorrow at 1 pm until 3.30 pm at the Whitehorse Public Library for an information session on his research project focused on the Yukon single fathers! Let's get together Yukon single fathers and friends, talk about the current state of single fathers' issues in Yukon particularly focusing on the social, legal, and economic experiences. Tims coffee and snacks will be served.

Join Shawkat Shareef, Ph.D. at the Whitehorse Public Library on Thursday, Sept 19, 2-4 PM for an Information Session about his research project focused on single fathers. Share your views, learn about the survey, and enjoy coffee and donuts!

Yukon single fathers! The online survey on Yukon single fathers by Dr. Shawkat Shareef of Yukon University is up and running! Please participate in the survey and let the society hear about your experiences being a single father in Yukon.
Thank you.

Dr. Shawkat Shareef, a sociologist at Yukon University, invites you to join an online survey about the experiences of single fathers in Yukon, covering social, legal, and economic aspects. This is the first survey of its kind in Yukon and possibly the first comprehensive online survey on single fathers in Canada.

Why we are trying to know about single fathers in Yukon? Because, until now, they are an invisible group though the numbers are growing increasingly both in Yukon and in Canada. Unfortunately, they are overlooked in sociological research, and policy that traditionally centers around single mothers. Yukon presents an especially bleak scenario: although 26.9 percent of all single parents in Yukon are single fathers ( according to the Yukon Bureau of Statistics), there is not a single government department or organization in Yukon is dedicated to single fathers, and there's a notable lack of comprehensive and actionable data on single fathers for the government to use. In other words, the unique challenges, and experiences of single fathers in social, legal, and economic contexts remain insufficiently understood and addressed. Recognizing and exploring the distinct realities of single fathers is crucial not only for the formulation of more inclusive and effective social policies but also for understanding the broader dynamics of single-parent families. Research into the lives of single fathers is vital for the development of government policies that broadly support the welfare of single parents, including single mothers, and their children. This approach ensures that the needs of all single-parent families are met, contributing to a more inclusive, equal, and better functioning (for children, youth, adults, i.e., for all) Yukon society.

In this survey, the single fathers are defined as men (cisgender, transgender, and non-binary) who have undergone a divorce, are separated, widowed, or are single adoptive fathers. A single father household is identified as one where the father lives with his children, under age 19, at least part-time, even if this is only a few days per month or a few weeks per year. This research does not include foster parents, single fathers who are currently living with a new partner, nonresidential single fathers ( i.e, chidlren never live with them) and single fathers living outside the Yukon.

The online survey has 4 major objectives:
1. To examine the social challenges faced by single fathers in Yukon, including issues related to stigma, social support networks, and social integration.
2. To investigate the legal aspects of single fatherhood in Yukon, including custody arrangements, government facilitation, or the legal hurdles faced by single fathers in the region.
3. To assess the economic experiences of single fathers in Yukon, focusing on their financial support/challenges, and access to resources and services.
4. To explore the interconnectedness of social, legal, and economic factors in the lives of Yukon's single fathers, understanding how these dimensions interact and impact their overall well-being.

If you're a single father in Yukon, or know someone who is, please take part in our online survey by clicking the link provided:

https://qualtricsxm7dttdbxm6.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_54QDnUnXo1eP8Q6

The survey runs from June 8, 2024 until September 30, 2024.

Once the survey data analysis is finished, you'll find the results here through a link.

The survey might influence the Yukon Government's policies to improve the lives of single fathers and their children in Yukon. It could lead to better relationships and communication between schools, parents, and communities.

Please share this message with your friends in the Yukon Helpers Network so we can reach as many single fathers in Yukon for the survey.

Thank you.
Dr. Shawkat Shareef
Assistant Professor
Liberal Arts, Yukon University
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (867) 336 4227

Yukon Single Fathers Research Project Dr. Shawkat Shareef, Yukon University sociologist, is interested to know how the single fathers in the Yukon are fairing by looking into their social, legal, and economic experiences.