In 1999 American Psychologist unleashed a public furor when it published an article that challenged a popular discourse on the dangers of fatherlessness. ‘‘Deconstructing the Essential Father’’ (Silverstein & Auerbach, 1999) contended that successful parenting…
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the share of children living in mother-only households has risen from 8 percent in 1960 to 23 percent in 2010 (Freakonomics, "How an Absent Father Affects Boys and Girls Differently"). A father or mother figure is a person who is older than the child, with power, authority, or strength and can identify on a deep personal level. Children with no father or mother will eventually yearn for one and will want to know why they don’t have one like their peers.The consequences for children who grow up without a father figure is more likely to live in poverty, have physical and emotional health issues, suffer drug and alcohol abuse, indulge in crime, sexual activity and teen pregnancies. Although growing up without…
Pope John XXIII states, "It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father" (Quotes and sayings). Commonly, this is true for many African-American men who have children; they lack the resources, dexterity and education that is required to become a real, reliable father. Although fatherlessness affects everyone regardless of demographics or culture, it has really taken its toll in the African–American communities. Despite the fact that it may be facile for Americans to sweep the issue under a rug, the reality is the intricacy still exists and is spiraling out of control. Sequentially, the challenges that accompany fatherlessness in American society must be addressed or disturbances will continue to affect all Americans. Furthermore, several organizations foresee the turmoil that lies ahead and have intervened to reverse the situation such as the changing fatherhood movement. The changing fatherhood movement correlates with Jo Freeman’s proposition theory because it contains the three core fundamental elements: preexisting communications, co-optable communications and precipitants, which are required for a social movement to evolve. However, recent trends in family-formation have taken a trajectory that clearly affects the community or any intact social group.…
Growing up without a father figure can turn a childhood totally upside down. “Psychological studies show that children growing up without fathers are more likely to be aggressive and quick to anger” (Kismet). Fathers leaving a household can make a hard impact on their child’s life. Fatherless children are at a high risk of mental issues, drug and alcohol use, lack of education, and even neglect and abuse. Not all children need a father figure to be great in life, but without the blessing of two parents they could be held at a disadvantage.…
Many children grow up without a father figure and this is a major issue. The percentage of children in the United States who grow up in a home without a father is steadily increasing. This is a major issue that needs to be resolved. Children who grow up without fathers are more likely to have mental and emotional issues, have involvement in gangs, be imprisoned at a young age, or die prematurely. Growing Up Fatherless shared results that showed, "Official U.S. data shows that 63 percent of youth suicides (5 times the average), 70 percent of youths in state-operated institutions (9 times the average) and 85 percent of children with behavioral disorders (20 times the average) are from fatherless homes," ("Growing Up Fatherless | Support Group | Statistics | Help | Find Father," n.d.). People will argue that many people do fine in life and they did not have a father involved in their lives, so there must not be an issue then. It is important to keep in mind that while this is true, the statistics show that there is a major problem with fatherless children being far more likely to engage in many destructive activities.…
Now that the divorce rate has increased, many mothers want to have full custody of their children. Fathers tend to stay away from full custody battles due to the fact that the children draw closer to the mother from birth. One problem with being a single mother is that the child does not have a father figure in their life. Every child needs a father to support them. Not only does a father offer economic stability he also serves as a role model. At some point in child hood children look up to their fathers for certain advice and needs. Author, Daniel Amneus wrote a book with statistics about children with no father figure in their lives. His book showed that 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes, 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a…
According to DeBell( 2008), about half of American children will spend part of their childhood in a single- parent family. DeBell stated that the absence of a father in a child’s home, the most consequential trend of our time, leads to social disaster(Pg. 427). Goldenberg (2008), states that a dysfunctional family, by definition, has failed to fulfill its purpose of nurturing the growth of its members. Single-parent families are more common in today’s society and are usually referred to as a broken home or dysfunctional families. Single-parent families have doubled since 1970 and are rapidly increasing. According the U.S. Census Bureau, around 30% of American families are headed by only one parent. There are 22 million children that live with a single parent—83% of those parents are moms.…
Furstenburg, P. H. (2009). A Weak Embrace Popular Depictions of Single Parenting. Marriage and Family,71, 209-225.…
In conclusion, a father is crucial in a child’s life. Father’s affect a child’s mental health, level of interaction, and sense of security. Every little kid needs a hero. Someone to look up to, and someone who they strive to become.…
Today, there are 20 million children in America who grow up in households without a father. In addition, this is an increasing problem in today’s society and is often ignored. Children who grow up without a father suffer shocking consequences, which are unfortunately out of the child’s control. In “Annual review of sociology” (2013), recent studies show that relationships with a father while growing up affect the child’s mental health, family formation, education, and labor success (Schneider, Tach, & McLanahan). This argues that a father plays an important role in their children’s life. A child, is more likely to inhibit negative behavior and antisocial tendencies, which…
Research literature in the father’s role of the upbringing of the children has shown that having a father in the child’s life benefits the outcomes for children, families and communities as a whole. Research shows that fathers who live with their children and are active within their lives are more likely to have a close, nurturing relationship with their children. Other results show that children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, , and avoid high-risk behaviors including drug use, skipping school, and getting involved in criminal activity in the adolescent years. “Within the past several decades the United States research has shown that the father’s role has decreased significantly. An amazing estimated 34% of children are living in father less homes. (Roberts, Carey, 2009) It can be traced as far back as the 1950’s to early 1960’s. During the Johnson administration the research results shown that more and more children were living in a single parent home, mainly the single mother. What is the main thing when one thinks of a fatherless home: low income. When a father is not in the home the child’s financial status suffers considerably. On average it is estimated that the mother will enroll in some government funded program that will help take the place of the monetary benefit’s a father’s income should provide. Although money is important to the child’s future and well being it is not the only thing that is needed by the father. It is estimated and stated in stated in Father’s Magazine that their children:…
Fathers should be present in their children’s lives. My father, though a teenager at the time of my birth, was not present in mine. As I was growing up, my grandparents did the best they could to try to fill the void, but without a normal familial structure I struggled to find a suitable replacement. While I did not see my mother often, I did see her on weekends. During one of these weekends, I witnessed my mother get married to a man named William. William had not been a father before, and, at just the young age of twenty-three, had dealt with abandonment issues growing up. Nevertheless, he was an excellent father to me and introduced me to my things that I carry with me today that became imprinted upon my personality and hobbies. Philosophies and concepts such as unconditional…
* Social researcher David Blankenhorn, author of Fatherless America, declared that "fatherlessness is the "engine driving" social pathologies such as crime, adolescent pregnancy, child sexual abuse, and violence against women".…
Although fathers constitute a minority of one parent families, over half a million men are rearing their children alone. There has been a steady increase of single fathers in the last decade; many believe this is due to marital instability. Unlike the past, when mothers were automatically granted custody, there is now genuine concern as to who is the better parent suited to care for the children. In Todd’s case, his then wife decided she no longer wished to play the mother and wife role, but lusted after the life of a single, carefree, woman in her twenties. She chose a path of drugs, alcohol, and sex, leaving behind her former life and her children. History shows us that the father usually assumed the role of a single parent only when there was maternal mortality, today father’s like Todd, are doing it open- heartedly, and putting their lives on the back burners for the physical and emotional needs of their children. Consequently, when a father attempts to raise his children alone, he must do so without clear guidelines, roadmaps or role clarity. There are no “Daddy and Me” classes no “What to Expect When You Suddenly Take Over Daddy & Mommy” books.…
Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor. In 2011, 12 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 44 percent of children in mother-only families. But even after controlling for income, there is also the significantly high risk of incarceration in youths in father-absent households than those in mother-father families. Obviously all fatherless children do not have these kind of problems, but the statistics show that the odds are much higher than those that are in a mother-father family.…