Fathers
Fathers
Fathers Make a Difference
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A father ’ s influence is profound and lasting, but limiting cultural stereotypes, his absence from the home, and the lack of societal sup­ports
can undercut his efforts.
Each father ’ s idea of the role he plays in the lives of his children is often influenced by cultural stereotypes, such as:
The Wallet: This father is
preoccupied with providing
financial support for his family.
He may work long hours to
bring home his paycheck and
does not take an active part in
caring for the children. Making
money becomes a distraction
from family involvement.
The Rock: This “ tough” father is
strict and in charge of the
family. He may also believe that
a good father remains
emotionally distant from his
children, so expressions of
affection are taboo.
The Dagwood Bumstead: This
father tries to be a “ real pal” to
his children, but his efforts are
often clumsy or extreme. He
doesn’t understand his children
and feels confused about what
to do. He may also feel that he
is not respected within the
family.
For much of the 20th century, the father ’ s most common role was that of The Wallet, seeing to the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing and shelter. While the role of pro­vider
is still considered highly important, no­tions
about fatherhood have expanded con­siderably
in the past three decades.
Added to the traditional perceptions of fa­therhood
is a more contemporary view, that of:
The Caregiver: This father works
to combine toughness with
tenderness. He enjoys his
children but is not afraid to set
firm but fair limits. He and his
wife may cooperate in child­rearing
and homemaking. This
view defines fatherhood as the
act of being a father, as opposed
to merely fathering a child. It
implies a bonding between
father and child; fathers today
are usually perceived as fully
co- equal with the mothers of
their children, and are much
more involved in all aspects of
the children’s lives.
Child development experts are discovering more about the important role that fathers play in the physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well- being of their children. Research also shows numerous negative impacts in the lives of children who live apart from their fa­thers
or who spend little time with their fathers.
When father is absent: staying connected
Currently, more than 27 million children live apart from their fathers. In a typical year, well over one- third of these children won ’ t even see their dad. More than half of all European- American children and three- quarters of all African- American children born since 1975 will live part of their formative years with only one parent, and in the vast majority of these cases, it ’ s the father who is absent. The costs of an absent father are high.