Despite the increase in the number of children born to unwed White mothers, social policies and attitudes about female-headed households usually depict the family structure as a Black issue. Public discourse continues to view the matriarchal family as abnormal and the cause of many problems in the Black community, such as criminal behavior and drug abuse. Black men are considered to be unsuitable role models and unable to lead their families, a belief that White Americans have maintained since the days of slavery. However, these criticisms of Black fathers distract attention from the social…
The fatherhood movement endorsed by activists such as David Blankenhorn proposes that men be enticed back into the family by policies that ensure their authority over their wife and children. However, this strategy focuses on the male's role as father rather than parent and is contrary to the feminist vision of equality in marriage. Feminist principles assert that masculinity and male domination are linked to violence and that the goal of returning to the family structure of 1950s America is undesirable. This chapter presents two case studies to illustrate the relationship between economic…
A framework for defining the role of fathers must acknowledge the importance of commitment, the fact that not all fathers are married to the mother of their children, and responsibilities other than that of "breadwinner." This chapter describes four key dimensions of fathering identified from a review of social science, biological, historical, and theological literature: involvement, consistency, awareness, and nurturance. Involvement depends on the father's ability to be engaged with his children, as well as accessible and responsible for their daily needs. A father's level of involvement…
Data from 13 national surveys were compiled for this report about parental attitudes and behaviors, family formation, and fertility. Indicators address beliefs about the importance of becoming a parent and the value of children, attitudes toward spanking, conflict resolution, warmth and conflict between parents and children, time spent with children, and participation in school activities. Child custody arrangements, marriage and divorce, cohabitation, and parental sexual history also are examined. The analysis can be used to support policy and practice decisions about mothers and fathers.…
The Little Big Book for Dads, Welcome's companion to the best-selling The Little Big Book for Moms, is back in an updated edition featuring a fresh cover design, a revised introduction and a new ISBN. This classic is a treasure trove piled high with stories, fairy tales, poetry, activities, recipes, and songs - all selected with the dad in mind. Featuring text by authors as diverse, funny, and profound as Bill Cosby, Shel Silverstein, Ogden Nash, and Dr. Seuss, and illustrated throughout with early twentieth-century art from artists including Jessie Wilcox Smith and Kate Greenway, The Little…
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From an emotional father / son confrontation about a troubled past, to the birth of a baby, to the loss of a father, All Men are Sons follows men from diverse backgrounds over the course of two years. The filmmakers then visited the subjects five years after the initial filming began. The result is a fascinating longitudinal look at the powerful father / son themes of love, loss and forgiveness. All Men are Sons features Terry Real, author of The New Rules of Marriage.
All Men are Sons is a provocative film that challenges stereotypes and offers rare insights into a critical but…
Using a hands-on approach to meeting the everyday challenges of modern fatherhood, this practical Handbook gives dads the information and skills they need to build healthy and enduring relationships wih children of any age. New dads will be challenged to create a vision for the fathers they want to become. Fathers of older children will be offered tools to ensure meaningful connection with their sons and daughters.The Modern Dads Handbook offers a golden opportunity for today's fathers and father-figures to engage their family in unprecedented ways. (Author abstract modified)
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Journal Article This article assesses the effectiveness of in-hospital paternity establishment, a federal requirement since 1993. The authors avoid biases in previous studies by using a national sample of nonmarital births ( N= 3,254), by including detailed controls for characteristics of unwed mothers and previously unavailable controls for characteristics of fathers, and by estimating reduced form models of the effects of strong paternity establishment regimes. They find that paternity establishment rates are now quite high?69%?and that 6 of 7 paternities are established in the hospital. Even after…
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This Brief summarizes findings from a CDC study on cultural values and parenting and child rearing. The study focused on five cultural groups -- African-Americans, American Indians, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and non-Hispanic Whites. It examined the ways that parents respond to children's behavior and their views of desirable or undesirable parenting practices. Uncovering the differences and commonalities in values, normative practices, and child-rearing goals across cultural groups is an important step in developing culturally-competent and effective programs and support for…
This information sheet provides tips on how fathers can share stories about their family history with their children to help them to value both their heritage and who they are as individuals. The sheet also contains a list of topics for further discussion as well as recommendations for books and movies.
