Story: Gender inequalities

Custody and access (2nd of 2)

Custody and access

Sole parent Peter Wilson is shown with his sons in 1979. He was a rarity – the majority of sole parents were women – but a growing number of men wanted more contact with, or custody of, their children after divorce. In the 1970s the Family Court generally awarded day-to-day custody of children to mothers. Anger over these issues grew over time. In the 1980s some men began actively seeking changes in the Family Court's approach to care of children after divorce. This intensified in the 1990s, when frustrated groups picketed family courts. Men continued to advocate for change in the early 21st century.

Courtesy of New Zealand Herald

Using this item

Auckland University Press
Reference: Margaret McClure, A civilised community: a history of social security in New Zealand, 1898–1998. Auckland: Auckland University Press in association with the Historical Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1998, p. 188

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How to cite this page:

Anne Else, 'Gender inequalities - Sexuality', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/28627/custody-and-access (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Anne Else, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 20 Jun 2018