Working Research Argument, "Fathers Are Essential"

Trent Anderson

7/22/2016

ENGL 312

Fathers Are Essential

Years ago, in 2007, a group of strikers came together on Capitol Hill. Unlike other protesters who may be mocked and yelled at, this group of individuals actually received cheers from observers. Within this group were Ted Leonsis, vice chairman of AOL, as well as Alma Powell, wife of former Secretary of State, Colin Powell. What was their battle cry? Their sounding plea was one for fathers---good, responsible fathers to serve another tour of duty, as part of the National Fatherhood Initiative’s Double Duty Dad, which is an initiative promoting good responsible fathers to seek out and mentor a child who doesn’t have a father or to mentor another father (“Free Download”).  Roland Warren, former president of the National Fatherhood Initiative and current member of the Initiative’s board of directors, sounded a clarion call to fathers to take up this service for underprivileged children without a father, commenting that “They (children without a father in the home) are more likely to fail in school, use drugs, become teen parents, and commit crimes than their peers living with both parents” (Warren).

In Kathy Koch’s, “Fatherhood Movement,” she mentions the opposition from many, including researchers, that believe fathers to be unessential. In Koch’s report, she mentions the work of two authors at Yeshiva University Medical School, who compiled a study entitled, “Deconstructing the Essential Father.” According to the writings of the authors, it doesn’t matter whether parenting is by the mother, the father, two moms, two dads, a grandmother or caregivers with no biological relationship to the child.” This view is supported by others in academia (Koch 477). Today, gay rights movements and extremism in political and social campaign have sparked a lot of discussion in the area of what is right and proper in family and marriage. Advocates, however, for fatherhood have responded and commented on the vast array of evidence that supports the role of a father. Koch also quotes David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute of American Values, who commented, “‘Fathers make irreplaceable contributions to the well-being of their children’” (Koch 478). While many disagree with the importance of a father for children and the positive effect of childbearing on a man, I support the role of fathers and believe them to be essential based on the positive internal effects brought about in children, the association with increased risky behaviors with father absence, and the positive effects on a father from rearing children.

Effective fathers help bring about a myriad of positive mental and psychological effects in the the lives of their children (Cabrera 150). In Natasha Cabrera’s, “Fathers,” she compiles a variety of evidence from research in support of fathers. Fathers are associated with increased social competence, well-being, and cognitive development, in young children (Cabrera 150). According to “The Fatherhood Movement” from the CQ Researcher, fathers help contribute to the lives of children in crucial ways. Children without a mother and a father in the home exhibit negativity in many different aspects (Koch 478). Additionally, fathers also have an effect on daughters, even though the effect may not be as significant as that upon sons (Cabrera 150). In a report compiled by Ronald P. Rohner about “Father love,” he cites multiple authors in listing evidence of the importance of fathers’ roles. Included in his report are the findings that the cohesion between a father and child is positively associated with “the absence of depressive symptoms.” Further, Rohner comments on the work of another study, commenting how only the quality of the father’s relationship with the son had to do with the psychological distress of the adult son. Rohner continues, commenting on findings of a correlation between daughters’ self-concept and the love and acceptance of the father (Rohner 159-160).

The influence of fathers is even more fully illustrated in how children are much less likely to be involved in risky behaviors. According Cabrera’s report, research indicates that sons without fathers in the home are twice as likely to be incarcerated (171). Citing Robert Rector, senior research fellow at Heritage Foundation, Koch also reports that “Sixty percent of convicted rapists, 72 percent of teen murderers and 70 percent of long-term prison inmates are males who grew up without fathers.” She continues in her report, stating the higher incidence of school drop-out and suspension, suicide, and abuse or neglect for fatherless children compared to children who grew up with two parents in the home. Additionally, also from Robert Rector’s research, Cabrera also mentions how teen pregnancy, sexual promiscuity, and drug abuse are more common with children in single-mother households compared to children who have fathers at home (476). Just this year, Cory Batey, former Vanderbilt football player, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for a raping a woman more than three years ago (Barchenger). In an interview with Cory, he was asked about his father, who had passed away when he was nine years old. He said, “I would like to think I wouldn’t be in this position if he was alive, honestly . . . I just think man needs his father at a certain point in life to mold him and discipline him, and I think I missed out on that, and, uh, I kinda had to choose my own direction, ya know?” (PHC Katy)

The importance of a father is also supported by the positive effects on the quality of life and well-being of the father. From a study done by Nomaguchi and Milkie, for new parents-- which include new fathers-- they “show a higher level of social integration with relatives, friends, and neighbors . . . ” (Nomaguchi and Milkie 362). Carlson and Turner summarized work done by other researchers, including one study reporting findings of the improved support of grandparents to the father of the grandchildren (Carlson 19, 7). According to Umberson and Grove, parents living with children exhibit better levels of self-esteem and home life satisfaction, as well as decreased levels of meaninglessness (449). These same authors also found that there was a strongly positive association with living with children and positive affect (or positive feelings (at the time of the survey)) for fathers(451).

So, was that rally on Capitol Hill all for naught? Why would Alma Powell and others gather together and protest and support a movement if there was not a concern? The world is full of all kinds of families---married parents and unmarried parents, with or without children, who may be composed of a dad and a mom, one mom, one dad, two moms, two dads, grandparents, in the home or out of the home. Family structure has taken quite the turn since the founding of our country. Many of these parents have good intentions for their children---they strive to rear with love and responsibility. One thing cannot be denied, however---that the happiness and success a family can experience will only ever reach its full potential when a father is there. Fathers must be there---fathers need to be there for their children and for the mother of those children. I add my words to Mr. Warren, and sound my own battle cry that the world needs fathers. It is up to us individually and in our families to do what we can now to ensure that our children do not go fatherless.

Sources

KOCH, Kathy. "Fatherhood Movement." CQ RESEARCHER 10.21 (2000)Web.

Cabrera, Natasha J. "Fathers." Child Development. Ed. Neil J. Salkind. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 148-152. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 18 July 2016. URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3401000115&v=2.1&u=byuprovo&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=3c8b81c72ff04bcdf6edb8c92d142be4

“Free Download > Become a Doubly Duty DadⓇ.” National Fatherhood InitiativeⓇ. National Fatherhood Initiative. 2016. Web. 22 July 2016.

Gender, Children, and Social Contact: The Effects of Childrearing for Men and Women Author(s): Allison Munch, J. Miller McPherson and Lynn Smith-Lovin Source: American Sociological Review, Vol. 62, no. 4 (Aug., 1997), Pp. 509-520 Published by: American Sociological Association Stable URL: Http://Www.Jstor.Org/Stable/2657423 Accessed: 18-07-2016 16:40 UTC. 62 Vol. Web. .

Current Directions in Psychological Science 1998 Rohner 157 61Rohner.Web.

Kei M. Nomaguchi, and Melissa A. Milkie. "Costs and Rewards of Children: The Effects of Becoming a Parent on Adults' Lives." Journal of Marriage and Family 65.2 (2003): 356-74. CrossRef. Web.

PHC Katy, “Interview Clip on Fatherlessness.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 19 Feb 2015. Web. 21 July 2016.

Turner, Kimberly, and Marcia Carlson. Fathers’ Involvement and Fathers’ Well-being Over Children’s First Five Years., 2010. Web.

Barchenger, Stacey. “Cory Batey Sentenced to 15 Years in Vanderbilt Rape.” The Tennessean. USA Today, 15 July 2016. Web. 21 July 2016.

Umberson, Debra, and Walter R. Gove. “Parenthood and Psychological Well-Being: Theory, Measurement, and Stage in the Family Life Course.” Journal of Family Issues 10.4 (1989): 440-462. Web. 22 July 2016.

Warren, Roland C. “A Clarion Call to Dad to Help Save Fatherless Kids.” Fox News. Fox News Network. 15 June 2007. Web. 22 July 2016.