Recently, the roles of fathers and husbands in families have been recognized as important issues. They appear in legislation aimed at deadbeat dads, social movements including the Million Man March and Promise Keepers, in the development of advocacy groups, and in think tanks. Therefore, contemporary research on men in family relationships has very mixed results. Some studies show that fathers have small effects on child development and in preventing antisocial behavior, whereas others suggest no effects. Other research claims that the primary importance of men in families is in their role as…
The concept of fatherlessness has emerged at the center of debates over welfare, poverty, sexuality, divorce, family values, and "racial disorder." Do children need fathers? Do mothers need husbands? Should we celebrate or grieve the loss (or transformation) of fatherhood? Is there a relation between "fatherlessness" and the destitution and crime of inner-city communities? Or is talk about "fatherlessness" simply a political diversion from the true sources of inequality and social disruption? This collection brings together the voices of nine highly diverse scholars to reflect on the…
Men often feel sidelined as their wives go through pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing. This book puts fathers right into the center of the action. It includes real-world tips from fathers on maintaining discipline, love, and an all-around positive influence; a men's guide to pregnancy and childbirth; practical advice for men about how to care for an infant; and moral support to help men become the best fathers they can be. (Author abstract modified)
Offering an eloquent combination of fifty beautiful black-and-white photographs and poignant quotations from the fathers and children portrayed, Commitment provides a powerful rendition of fatherhood in black America.The father is often perceived as someone absent from the African American family, though the reasons for this perception vary. This book shows another side to that image, a positive one depicting black men who are supportive and nurturing parents. To reveal and celebrate this less often recognized parent, Carole Patterson has spent several years crossing the continent to…
The author of this chapter suggests that attempts to encourage fathers to remain with their families do not address the economic and social reality of low-income men and single parent families. The statistics about father absence fail to calculate the number of non-resident fathers who are involved with their children but do not provide financial assistance and do not consider that residence with an abusive father is more harmful than living in a single parent household. Furthermore, the public image of low-income single mothers depicts them as unwilling to work or supervise their children…
This chapter explores the loss that children feel when separated from their father by divorce or because their parents never married. Research has found that in most cases, visits are awkward for the child and his parents and contact between fathers and their children decreases over time. Children of divorce experience more negative outcomes than children whose fathers died because they tend to externalize, rather than internalize, their emotions. The degree of loss is not related to the quantity of time that children spend with their nonresident father or the amount of child support.…
Chapter 1. My Princess is Growing Up. Chapter 2. "I Need You, Daddy!". Chapter 3. Trust: The Glue That Holds Relationships Together. Chapter 4. Closeness: The Adolescent Safety Net. Chapter 5. Communication: The Heart of Father-Daughter Initmacy. Chapter 6. "Who Am I?" A Daughter's Search for Identity. Chapter 7. Letting Go: Helping Her Become Autonomous. Chapter 8. A Father's Love as a Model of the Father's Love. Chapter 9. Being Her Teacher When You Want to be Her Judge. Chapter 10. Being Her Guide When You Want to be Her Boss. Chapter 11. Being Her Friend When You Want to be Her Protector…
Although conservatives and liberals agree that men are less involved in their families than they once were, they disagree about the consequences of the trend. Conservatives believe that father abandonment will lead to additional social problems, while liberals view the trend as an opportunity to recognize a variety of family structures. This article provides a historical perspective of the evolution of fatherhood and analyzes the assumptions made by both sides of the debate over the impact of fatherlessness. Bioevolutionary theory supports the belief that fathers and children have lived…
This chapter reviews the role of fathers in child rearing and explores the effects of fatherlessness on children, society, marriage, women, and fathers. The text emphasizes that fathers parent differently than mothers, providing physically stimulating play and influencing academic achievement and gender identity. Except for dysfunctional families, children need to have two parents and are more likely to become involved in juvenile crime and substance abuse when they do not live with their father. Fatherless children also are at risk for eating disorders, depression, suicide, and poverty. Many…
The author of this chapter describes the current concerns about fatherlessness and family values as manifestations of dada-ism, an art form characterized by nonsense, travesty, and incongruity. She asserts that the proliferation of fatherhood organizations, literature, and political statements has promoted an alarmist message regarding the dangers of father absence and influenced the American public to believe that fatherlessness is the most important social problem in the nation. The focus on the role of fathers has replaced the political discourse on maternal neglect, which blamed feminism…
