| The Changing Role of the Modern Day Father
The modern day father comes in various forms. Today’s father is no longer
always the traditional married breadwinner and disciplinarian in the family.
He can be single or married; externally employed or stay-at home; gay or straight;
an adoptive or step-parent; and a more than capable caregiver to children facing
physical or psychological challenges. Psychological research across families
from all ethnic backgrounds suggests that fathers' affection and increased family
involvement help promote children's social and emotional development.
What has brought this change in roles for men as fathers?
Economic Trends
Two to three centuries ago, fathers’ roles were primarily to serve as
breadwinners and the conveyers of moral values and religious education to their
children. However, with the advent of industrialization and urbanization and
as factories emerged as major sources of employment, fathers became distanced
from the household and their families. Growing rates of abandonment and illegitimacy
led to the development of welfare programs to assist widowed or unmarried women
in supporting their children.
In more recent decades, the changing economic role of women has greatly impacted
the role of fathers. Between 1948 and 2001, the percentage of working age women
employed or looking for work nearly doubled–from less than 33 percent
to more than 60 percent. Their increase in financial power made paternal financial
support less necessary for some families. In tandem with the growing autonomy
of women, related trends such as declining fertility, increasing rates of divorce
and remarriage, and childbirth outside of marriage have resulted in a transition
from traditional to multiple undefined roles for many fathers. Today’s
fathers have started to take on roles vastly different from fathers of previous
generations.
Changes in caregiving roles
Historically, research on child development has focused more on the sensitivity
of mothers to fulfilling their children’s needs. However, in the last
20 to 30 years, research has increasingly focused on fathers.
This is due to the growing role modern day fathers play in caregiving. A study
conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
found that fathers tended to be more involved in caregiving when:
- they worked fewer hours than other fathers;
- they had positive psychological adjustment characteristics (e.g., high
self esteem, lower
- levels of depression and hostility, and coping well with the major tasks
of adulthood);
- mothers worked more hours than other mothers;
- mothers reported greater marital intimacy; and
- when children were boys.
Other research on the role of fathers suggests that the influence of father
love on children's development is as great as the influence of a mother's love.
Fatherly love helps children develop a sense of their place in the world, which
helps their social, emotional and cognitive development and functioning. Moreover,
children who receive more love from their fathers are less likely to struggle
with behavioral or substance abuse problems.
Non-residential fathers
Research on the impact of absent and non-residential fathers on the lives of
children illuminates how crucial their role is. Theoretical models of fatherhood
have outlined four major tasks involved in “responsible fatherhood”:
- providing financial support;
- providing care;
- providing emotional support; and
- establishing legal paternity.
As of 2006, 38% of all births were to unmarried women - a more than six-fold
increase since 1960. Non-marital birth rates are highest for Hispanic
women followed by African American women. Rates for non-Hispanic white
and Asian or Pacific Islander women are much lower. However, crude stereotypes
about minority fathers in particular overlook the complex economic, psychological,
cultural, and relational issues that affect their fathering behaviors.
There are cultural variations in fathers' caregiving practices that counter
several negative stereotypes.
- Low-income, minority, and non-residential fathers who have jobs and education
are more likely to be involved with their children.
- Research has found that African American men are more likely to physically
care for, feed and prepare meals for their infants than either white or Hispanic
fathers.
- Emerging research on cultural influences on parenting beliefs in the African
American community show family and community pressure on unmarried non-residential
fathers to provide financial and child-care support at marginally higher rates
than their white and Hispanic counterparts.
- Some ethnographic data has emerged that significant amounts of paternal
financial support (both cash and in-kind aid) may go unreported in formal
systems.
- Many unemployed fathers may have access to their children restricted by
the child’s mother/ family members or may even remove themselves due
to their own shame resulting from inability to provide financial support.
- Even incarcerated fathers can play a role in the rearing of their children
by regularly communicating with and making parenting decisions with their
spouses and other family members.
- Even in cases where biological fathers are completely absent, maternal
partners, stepfathers, grandparents, or other relatives may serve as father
figures.
The status of the father's relationship with his child's mother serves an important
influence on father involvement. Non-residential fathers are at high risk for
becoming disconnected from their children over time. Lacking a minimally close
relationship, as is the case when couples become acquaintances, is likely to
result in lower levels of paternal engagement of children.
Divorced and step-fathers
In cases of divorce, it is often difficult if not impossible for fathers to
maintain the same types of parenting roles with their biological children. Indeed,
children of divorce—and later, remarriage—are twice as likely to
academically, behaviorally and socially struggle as children of first-marriage
families. Most divorced fathers do not receive full custody of their children.
As a result, maintaining their roles as parents can be difficult due to the
reduction in time spent with their children. Fortunately, visitation of fathers
post-divorce has increased over the past two decades. However, it is not the
frequency of contact between father and child, but rather the quality of the
visits that contributes to the child’s well-being. Research has found
that the key factors that contribute to healthy adjustment for children post-divorce
include:
- appropriate parenting (i.e., providing emotional support, monitoring children's
activities, disciplining authoritatively, and maintaining age appropriate
expectations),
- enough access to the non-residential parent,
- suitable custody arrangements, (joint legal custody often results in shared
decision making, more father-child visits, regular child support payments,
and more satisfied and better adjusted children)
- low parental conflict, and
- parents who are psychologically healthy.
It is estimated that one in three Americans is part of a step-family. Step-fathers
can encounter many difficulties in their new parenting roles. They must strike
a balance between maintaining healthy relationships with their ex-spouses in
order to benefit their biological children without alienating their new partners.
In addition, it may take years before they are accepted as “real”
parents by their step-children. Research has found that the type of step-family
with best outcomes for children consists of parents who form a solid, committed
partnership so they can not only nurture their marriage, but also effectively
raise their children. These parents don’t follow unrealistic expectations
of what the family should be like.
Gay fathers
As more and more gay men are able to live their lives openly and to establish
long-term, supportive and loving relationships, like heterosexual couples, they
are beginning to start families. With the growing numbers of gay fathers in
our society, research suggests that they are likely to divide the work involved
in child care relatively evenly and that they are happy with their couple relationships.
In fact, research findings suggest that gay parents are as likely as heterosexual
parents to provide supportive home environments for children. Research has found
no evidence to support the following concerns with regard to foster care and
adoption by gay fathers:
- the belief that gay men are mentally ill, and
- the belief that gay men's relationships with sexual partners leave little
time for ongoing parent-child interactions
Extensive research over the last three decades shows that homosexuality is
not a mental disorder; there is no reliable evidence that it impairs psychological
functioning, although the discrimination and prejudice gay men face can often
cause acute distress. Likewise, beliefs that gay men are not fit parents have
no empirical foundation.
Stay-at-home fathers
While still a relatively small proportion of all fathers (an estimated 159,000
out of the nation’s 64 million), the emergence of the “stay-at-home”
father demonstrates a new type of patriarch who is primarily charged with caregiving
in the context of his family. In fact, the number of stay-at-home dads is growing
at a rapid pace, having increased by 50% between 2003 and 2006. For many fathers,
the decision to stay home with their children stems from:
- their spouse’s strong earning potential;
- their own desire to serve as the primary caregiver; and
- a shared reluctance along with their spouse to allow someone else to raise
their children.
Stay-at-home fathers are routinely confronted with stigma due to their flouting
of the social norms surrounding masculine behavior. Most of these fathers do
not feel bound to these norms and are comfortable being affectionate and nurturing
with their children, characteristics which are traditionally thought of as feminine.
In addition, despite their increasing numbers their relative rarity can isolate
them from other full-time parents. Some fathers report being shunned from playgroups
and eyed suspiciously at the playground by stay-at-home mothers.
Conclusion
In summary, the modern day father can contribute to his children’s health
and well-being by maintaining a healthy relationship with the other parent even
in cases of divorce; providing emotional and financial support, appropriate
monitoring and discipline; and most importantly by remaining a permanent and
loving presence in their lives.
Sources:
APA (2005). Lesbian and gay parenting. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved
June 15, 2009 from www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/lgplgparents.html.
APA (2004). Briefing sheet: An overview of the psychological literature
on the effects of divorce on children. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved
June 15, 2009 from www.apa.org/ppo/issues/divorcechild.html.
APA (2003) ACT Against Violence program for incarcerated fathers. Retrieved
June 19, 2009 from www.apa.org/pi/preventviolence/incarcerated.html.
APA Monitor (2007). Stay-at-home dads report high job satisfaction. Vol. 38(9),
pp. 57. Retrieved June 15, 2009 from www.apa.org/monitor/oct07/stayathome.html.
APA Monitor (2005). Meet the renaissance dad. Vol. 36(11), pp. 62. Retrieved
June 15, 2009 from www.apa.org/monitor/dec05/renaissance.html.
APA Monitor (2005). Stepfamily success depends on ingredients. Vol. 36(11),
pp. 58. Retrieved June 15, 2009 from www.apa.org/monitor/dec05/stepfamily.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). National Center for
Health Statistics Data Brief (May 2009): Changing patterns of nonmarital
childbearing in the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June 19, 2009 from www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db18.htm.
Coley, R. L. (2001). (In)visible men: Emerging research on low-income, unmarried,
and minority fathers. American Psychologist, 56(9), 743-753.
Fagan, J., & Palkovitz, R. (2007). Unmarried, nonresident fathers' involvement
with their infants: A risk and resilience perspective. Journal of Family
Psychology, 21(3), 479–489.
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics (2008). America’s
children in brief: Key national indicators of well-being. Washington, DC:
U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 19, 2009 from www.childstats.gov/pdf/ac2008/ac_08.pdf.
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network (2000). Factors associated with fathers'
caregiving activities and sensitivity with young children. Journal of Family
Psychology, 14(2), 200-219.
U.S. Census Bureau (2009). Single-parent households showed little variation
since 1994, Census Bureau reports. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from
www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html.
Resources:
APA Help Center
Families: Single Parenting and Today's Family - www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=16
Fatherhood Balancing Act Takes a Toll on Men’s Health - www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=178
Parenting: High Expectations, Dads and Stress - www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=156
APA Children’s Books
Do You Sing Twinkle? A Story about Remarriage and New Family - www.maginationpress.com/441B033.html
I Don't Want To Talk About It: A Story about Divorce for Young Children - www.maginationpress.com/4416649.html
My Mom and Dad Don't Live Together Anymore: A Drawing Book for Children of
Separated or Divorced Parents - www.maginationpress.com/4418358.html
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