The role of the father is definitely being challenge in today's society. If you ask some people, there is a question of whether a father is even necessary. On one hand, some say that a child does not need a father and that the mother alone can raise a child to become a productive citizen of society. On the other hand, there are those who believe that the absence of a father has a tremendous effect on the productiveness of a child. There can be only one correct and most accurate answer in this modern day phenomenon.

If a woman alone can rear a child and that child operates emotionally, physically, academically, and cognitively sufficient, in addition to being a productive citizen once an adult, then maybe fathers are not needed. However, if a child grows without a father, turns to the streets and drugs, disrespects women, and ends up in prison, and then the fact of the child being fatherless is an attribute. Neither argument is valid because they are both based on assumption, yet, many people believe either one or the other simply because society refuses to face the common truth.

The situation where a child grows without a father is either in the single-parent home where the mother alone raises the child, or by a family member - preferably a grandmother, aunt, sister, or any other female role model. The absence of the male figure all together would constitute a child growing without a father figure in his or her life. If a mother alone rears a child and does it to the best of her ability without the help of a spouse, then she will work twice as hard to supply the child's needs sufficiently, developmentally and essentially.

When a mother works she must have adequate day and/or after school care for her child so she can pursue a career and this places additional odds against the child. School is essential for children to attend because it helps them develop socially and academically, but day cares are another story. Childcare centers take in children as young as six weeks old, not even time enough for the mother to heal physically.

When a child is separated from its the mothers side at a young age there are bound to be emotional deficiencies, whether any one wants to admit it or not. Unless, of course, another woman or even a man, voluntarily gives that child devoted attention. In the early sixties, when the traditional family began to break down, the question was, does a child need both parents, now the question is, does the child develop sufficiently enough in a day care?

There are actually two strikes against a child belonging to a single mother, 1) the absence of a father, and 2) suitable nurturing and attention. Analyzing the mindset of people today, when 2500 people were asked if they agree or disagree whether a preschool child suffers if his or her mother works, 46% agreed and 53% disagreed. When the same amount were asked if a working mother can establish just as warm and secure a relationship with her children as a mother who does not work, 66% agreed and 33% disagreed. However, when asked whether a father is important in the life of a child, 79% agreed and only 20% disagreed.

Although many people agree that a father figure is important in a child's life, because of the high rate of single parent families in today's society, the mind set is shifting to adjust to the single parent family. To justify the rise in single parent families, many excuses are developing. Even in the two-parent family, the paradigm of the traditional family is shifting to the new age family.

When 2000 people were asked if women should take care of running the homes while leaving the providing responsibility to the men, 83% disagreed and only 16% agreed. All of the above surveys are most disturbing and contradictory and suggests that the values of today's parents are distorted by the role reversal mentality.

In an attempt to spare the feelings of single mothers because of certain situations they endure, mainstream society will speak in favor of single parent families and day care centers, despite whatever traumatic effect these two new establishments have on children. The future of children is not imbedded in the mainstream media support of single parent families, only the feelings of the mother. What does this attention and whoopla do for the image of the father or any male figure?

It distorts and waters down their role as men and fathers. Moreover, it gives a false sense of superiority and glory to the mother and woman, giving them more responsibility than they can and will be able to handle in the future. In so many words, society is leaving the rearing of our children to women; however, this time instead of the man and father playing an active role in the child's life, they are dismissed from or persecuted out of the duty.

Half of all children today will spend half of their childhood in a family headed by a woman. This is due to the high divorce rates and the socioeconomic stratification of women today. The entire blame of fatherless children cannot be put on men; women too, are to blame. Twice as many women enter the work force today than 40 years ago, leaving the child in another's care for the better part of the day. In addition, every ten years the children get younger and younger.

As stated before, childcare centers take children now as young as six weeks old. The fact that more people agree woman can sufficiently raise a child without the help of a man, and those who believe that children can notwithstanding develop even if the mother is working, proves that all the blame cannot be on fathers.

© 2000 By Sound Doctrine Inc.