Fathers In Short Supply

Father's Day was Sunday [June 22, 2005], and hopefully many fathers received praises and well deserved pats on the back for working hard to provide for their family.

But when I use the word father, I generally speak of the man who provides for his family, takes care of his children and stays with his wife through thick and thin. He is a man who honors his wedding vows and realizes that he possesses tremendous influence over the lives of his children and the peace of his household.

I refuse to equate the word 'father' with individuals who run away from their responsibilities and are utterly selfish in their lifestyles.

Unfortunately, it seems real fathers are in short supply over the last half of the 20th century. I am especially saddened that, according to the National Fatherhood Initiative, the proportion of out-of-wedlock births rose nearly 600 percent from 1960 to 2000. Moreover, 24 million children grow up in households without their fathers.

The decay of the nuclear family has lead to too many single-mother households, in which women are subjected to being the primary caregiver and the primary income earner.

It is no coincidence that the colossal increase in fatherless households correlates with more children living in poverty and sub-standard living conditions. It is also a significant contributor to the well-touted "wage gap", which seems to be a popular statistic among college students. Unfortunately, the "wage gap" statistic fails to account for similar education and experience, where paradoxically women are actually earning the same and even more in many fields than their male counterparts with similar backgrounds. Since the statistic factors in all wages across all levels of labor, it makes sense that women would earn less.

Women tend to work part-time more than men because of child-rearing responsibilities. Women who have children at a young age and are absent a husband usually have to forgo higher levels of education because of responsibilities. This leaves women little choice with their financial well-being, as we know, higher levels of education correlate with higher paying careers. Women, therefore, are stuck in lower paying jobs working fewer hours which equates into sub standard pay. This, coupled with child expenses, leaves many single-parent households in financially dire straits.

If a father is permanently affixed in the household, the couple can enjoy added income and share in the child's responsibilities. It is no coincidence that nuclear family homes make up an overwhelming number of the middle and upper-middle class families in this country.

Fathers are of utmost importance. This is why society must promote long lasting relationships and responsible child rearing practices. Besides being important financially, fathers add much needed emotional and psychological support to their children. Children that grow up with responsible fathers have shown to be much happier and emotionally healthier adults. Nuclear families are vital in promulgating responsible, decent children as well as happy and long lasting families -- they should be, without a doubt, an important societal goal to attain.