The Role of Single Fathers in Parenting: Debunking Myths and Embracing Diversity
In today's society, parenting roles and responsibilities are no longer confined to traditional gender stereotypes. The essential qualities of a successful parent involve love, support, care, and dedication, rather than being solely defined by gender. However, it is crucial to recognize and appreciate the unique contributions of single fathers in raising children. This article aims to shed light on the various factors that debunk the myth of single mothers being the sole formidable parent, emphasizing the importance of individual characteristics rather than gender itself.
The Impact of Single Fathers in Parenting
- Nurturing Environment:
- Single fathers create a nurturing and loving environment for their children.
- According to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health1, there is no significant difference in the emotional bonds formed between single fathers and their children compared to single mothers.
- Educational Support:
- Single fathers are highly involved in their children's education.
- A report by the UK Department of Education2 indicated that single fathers actively participate in school activities, helping their children achieve academic success.
- Positive Role Models:
- Single fathers serve as positive role models for their children.
- Research by Child Trends3 found that single fathers' involvement leads to increased self-esteem and positive behavioural outcomes for their children.
- Emotional Stability:
- Single fathers provide emotional stability to their children.
- A study published in the Journal of Family Issues4 revealed that children of single fathers exhibited similar emotional well-being to those raised by single mothers.
Recognizing the Individual
While it is essential to recognize the unique contributions of single fathers and appreciate their role in raising children, it is equally important to understand that parental success is not solely determined by gender. Parenting skills and attributes vary widely from person to person, regardless of gender. The success of parenting depends on the individual's ability to create a nurturing and supportive environment.
In the UK There have been a number of debates regarding the number of people who are currently in prison; and how they have wound up in that situation.
The outcome has seen that a large number of the prison population have come from a single parent household. There are currently around 1.8 million single parents household living in the UK today. In the World the UK is the second highest country with a single parent household at 21%, behind the USA (23%). Unfortunately there is a general view that because the father is not in the household the child’s/ children lives that they will be “better off”. However there are a number of figures that show that this is far from the case.
Yet the stagnant U.K Court system that is inundated with the backlog from co-vid and the global shutdown around the world will award the children to be in the care of the mother 90% of the time, even if the mother is not fit to raise the child by herself or even if the father is in a better situation to care for the child.
The proportion of families with children headed by single parents has remained at around 23% for over a decade in the UK. Showing that around a quarter of the population are being raised in single mother household. On the other hand less than 10% of children being raised by their father in the UK for over ten years.
This has a knock on effect with the number of absentee fathers in their child’s life being both normalised and can be incentivised by many different external factors that would benefit the mother outside of the breakdown of a relationship.
This can start from gaining additional financial support for the mother from the government, benefits in living arrangement by the giving of flats and houses that they are ‘entitled’ too, or a catalyst for control over the other parent. Seeing some children being uprooted and moved overseas just to not allow an ex the opportunity to be a part of the child’s life and being a pawn in the argument.
Even with this support fatherless children are six times more likely to live in poverty and commit criminal acts than children raised in dual-parent or father only households. This is shown by around 80% of youth in prisons population coming from fatherless homes.
From a single mother home the figures are: 63% of all youth suicides, 70% of all teen pregnancies, 71% of all adolescent chemical/substance abusers, 80% of all prison inmates, and 90% of all homeless and runaway children, came from single mother homes.
With the individual being 5 times more likely to commit suicide, 9 times more likely to not to attend school, 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances, 14 times more likely to commit a sexual assault, 20 times more likely to end up in prison and 32 times more likely to run away from home.
There are around 3 million children in the UK growing up in a lone parent household and around 2 million of them are growing up without contact with their father.
There is a connection between young people growing up without a father in the home and becoming involved in youth crime and gang violence in the UK is around 75% of young men in prison. There is also reflected in young women who grow up in a fatherless homes.
Without a father children are more likely to develop behavioural problems and perform poorly academically. This has a knock on effect that will likely have an effect on their self-esteem, developing eating disorders, developing drinking and drug addiction, depression and even become involved in gang activity.
It is important for young people to know that they have the support during a troubling time of their live. There is also a highly likelihood that they would struggle to build relationships and can become sexually active at a younger ages then a 2 parent household.
We are saying that all men should be fathers, but all children do need a father in their lives. As a father is a vital component in their development. Having a father figure in the home supports and outline discipline and boundaries for both young boys and girls as they will act different then they would around the mothers. By having a father in their lives they should have a boost in confidence, self-esteem and self-worth.
For boys they will be able to ask questions about their bodies and any changes they may have during puberty. Whereas girls they will have an improved level of self-worth and this mind-set should assist in developing future relationships with other (including poetical partners).
The children that are having contact with both their parents will feel that they have additional emotional support, which will not be provided by a single mother household.
There are a number of women who are having to raise children by themselves. This is a hard task to ask one person to develop active members of society, however there is a large number of children that have been left on the way side. And we as a society need to do something to protect the next generation. If we can protect a child from becoming a statistic.
We understand there are a number of women in the UK who are doing it alone, whether out of choice or due to circumstances they are doing the best they can.
However as a parent you should want the best for your child and by actively blocking a father from seeing their child (without a good reason) you would need to ask are you a good person who is not being selfish and only holding onto the pain of a failed relationship?
So in conclusion form the figures and data presented, a child has a equal percentage of success if they are living with the father, as with a 2 parent household. However being a single mother does not mean that your child will be doomed to fail, it is just statistically less likely to achieve the maximum poetical when a male is in the household.
It is crucial to debunk the myth that single fathers are inferior to single mothers in raising children. Numerous studies and research have shown that single fathers make significant contributions to their children's upbringing and emotional well-being. However, it is equally vital to recognize that success in parenting is determined by individual characteristics and not solely by gender. Ultimately, what matters most is the love, care, support, and dedication provided by the parent, irrespective of gender, towards the growth and development of their children.
We at Wainwright and Cummins LLP are here to help both sides. From a Mothers protect their children and themselves form an ex-partner who has or is causing problems. To a Fathers who would like to have access to their children, when a controlling ex-partner is using the children to get back at them. At the end of the day we want to get the best outcome for our clients firstly and their families. Seeing that our client are happy and their children are safe and grow up to be an active member of society is the reason why we do this job.
If you are a parent and who is looking for the best representation who cares, feel free to contact our family department on:0207 095 5700 or email newenquiries@wainwrightcummins.co.uk
[References]
Sources:
- National Institutes of Health and Care Research - https://www.nihr.ac.uk/
- Department of education: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
- Nuffield Foundation: https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/
- Journal of Family Issues: https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/journal/journal-family-issues
