Parenthood takes different forms, especially in the modern context. Children inherently require attention and care right from birth and in some cases until early adulthood. Although the type of care provided changes within different age groups and sex, parental supervision is consistently needed for a child's psychological and physical development. Apparently, there is consensus on the need for proper parenting for a child's proper development. However, the role of fathers in parenting is still a matter of discussion, with arguments for and against the role played by fathers in bringing up children. The debate is further fueled by the existence of single-parent families, especially mothers who play the role of both parents in bringing up their children. Similarly, cases of fathers single-handedly bringing up children are not rear. Hence, the ability of any of the two parents to bring up a child either due to circumstances or choice is not in question. However, the role of fathers in families where both parents exist is not well appreciated in today’s society. Thus, this paper will apply the rhetorical mode of argumentation to convince the reader that fathers play a vital and irreplaceable role in parenting.
Fathers play a vital role in a child’s social development. The family environment makes an essential contribution to the development of the social behavior of a child. Leidy, Schofield, and Parke (2013) explained that family is social system fathers, marital relationships and siblings contribute to social development. Thus, fathers have a role in shaping the social behavior of the child. Studies have shown that the social behavior of children brought up in families without fathers is incompletely formed when compared with children having fathers (Leidy, Schofield, & Parke, 2013, p. 151). The difference comes into fore when characteristics such as interaction with peers are observed. Childen from families without fathers have weaker social interaction skills and tend to be less liked by their peers. The problems tend to extend to adolescents where they are at a higher risk of school dropout and drug abuse (Leidy, Schofield, & Parke, 2013). These problems emerge due to the absence of the morals, skills, and opportunities provided by the father. Key among the roles played by the father in the development of social behavior is the child is acting as a social guide. Fathers directly influence social behavior through advice and education on how to approach various issues and situations. The indirect role is seen through the father’s relationships with family members and others outside the family framework. Unlike mothers, fathers provide opportunities for interaction with peers by allowing more dangerous methods of play, thus enhancing risk-taking behavior. Fathers are also more likely to identify irresponsible social behavior in teenagers and take measures to discourage the child.
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Importantly, financial support provided by fathers determines the quality of life that children live. Children are more likely to live in poor neighborhoods where the risk of irresponsible behavior like crime, drug and alcohol abuse is high when financial support from fathers is nonexistent (Coakley, 2013). These problems can be significantly reduced when financial support from the father is available, irrespective of whether the father is biological or adoptive. The involvement of the father, in this case, is purely financial where the impact is felt even in situations where he father makes no close contact with the child. Notably, this role is more significant in cases where the income of the mother or any other guardian is barely sufficient to provide the child with a comfortable lifestyle. The importance of financial support is becoming apparent in recent years as government and child welfare agencies lay more emphasis on financial support provided by fathers. Despite the chances of the role being filled by another male figure, financial support also offers the opportunity for biological fathers to become involved in the child's life thus provided the other benefits of fathers.
Ostensibly, fathers contribute to character development and thinking skills in children and young adults. Relationships between fathers and children lead to the influence of the fathers on the child’s character. For instance, a father watching his children play and approving a particular kind of game that the children initially deemed dangerous will lead to the children freely engaging in the game (Oppenheimer, 2014). Such observations are explained with reference to the level of trust existing between the child and the father. As a result, the child develops the ability to take risks and assess situations. The trust established also develops the child’s character to view situations from different perspectives. Conversely, mothers are likely to discourage risky play which adversely affects the child’s development by producing in them a character of fear and lack of risk-taking. Additionally, character development in the child as evidenced by direct advice to the child and indirectly through observations. Although its more likely that the child spends more time with the mother than with the father, observed behavior in the father significantly impacts on the child’s character. Uncultured or undesirable behavior in the father will likely show in the child’s character since children begin viewing their fathers as role models from a tender age. Similarly, either genetically or through learning, the excellent character passes to the child from the father. Again, directly through advice, the father can shape the child’s character. Thus, the influence of fathers on a child’s character can either be positive or negative.
Equally important are father-child relations in shaping the future of the child. Until as recent as the 1970s, relationships between fathers and their children were thought to be insignificant to the development of the child (Lamb & Lewis, 2013). However, studies on the importance of these relationships revealed that they significantly affected the way the children developed. Findings also show that the quality of the relationship is more significant than the strength (Lamb & Lewis, 2013, p. 119). Implying that a very close relationship between the father and child does not necessarily impact more positively on the child as compared to a relationship where the father teaches the child various aspects of the society and their life. Hence, the relevance of father-child relationships in shaping the child’s development is hinged on the ability of the father to positively influence the child’s character, decisions, behavior and interactive skills. The relationships are more sustainable when building from an early age as opposed to teenagehood when the child already has performed ideologies and character. Thus, quality relationships lead to desirable development outcomes in children.
Unsurprisingly, arguments against the relevance of fathers in parenthood have been put forward. Among the most common claims against the relevance of fatherhood is that single mothers can morally care for children, set strict rules and establish better relationships through communication (Choi & Pyun, 2014). Furthermore, the children brought up under the family environment of a single mother is likely to show respect and a positive attitude towards women. These benefits have been the basis of arguments against the relevance of fathers in families. However, these benefits do not eclipse the role of fathers in the family. While mothers have their role to play in parenting, fathers too significantly influence the family model thus affecting the development of the child. Single-mothers may assume some of the roles a father plays in the development of the child, but still its practically impossible to entirely replace a father. Again, parenting stress levels have been shown to be higher in single parents than in families where parenting roles are shared (Choi & Pyun, 2014). The stress emanates from financial constraints and increased parenting roles. Thus, fatherhood remains essential in parenting.
Again, arguments against the role of fathers in parenting have been based on the pluralist idea that parenting is not limited to the biological connection but the ability of the father to assume their roles in the development of the child and the family. Arguably, a father is not necessarily genetically related to the child (Kolers & Bayne, 2017). Although this argument is backed by evidence of adoptive fathers and cases of neglect seen today, the weight of the argument is insignificant in the face of the roles played by fathers. Again, biological fathers who abscond their duties to the child do not make the role of fathers trivial.
To conclude with, fathers, whether biological or adoptive, play an essential role in the development of a child. Social behavior is learned. Hence a child observes or is taught certain aspects of interactive behavior by their father. Children brought up in the presence of the father perform better than those brought up where a father is absent. Financial support provided by fathers contributes to comfortability while a child grows and also reduces financial constraints on the child. Character development is another aspect that is influenced by a father figure. Additionally, father-child relationships determine the development and future outcome of a child. In light of these, the benefits offered by fathers in parenting are far crucial, and the negative effects of the absence of a father are far-reaching. Thus, contrary to what others may think, the relevance of fathers in today's parenting is increasing.
References
Choi, J. K., & Pyun, H. S. (2014). Nonresident fathers’ financial support, informal instrumental support, mothers’ parenting, and child development in single-mother families with low income. Journal of Family Issues, 35(4) , 526-546.
Coakley, T. M. (2013). The influence of father involvement on child welfare permanency outcomes: A secondary data analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(1) , 174-182.
Kolers, A., & Bayne, T. (2017). Toward a pluralist account of parenthood. Routledge.
Lamb, M. E., & Lewis, C. (2013). Father-child relationships. Handbook of father involvement: Multidisciplinary perspectives, 2 , 119-135.
Leidy, M. S., Schofield, T. J., & Parke, R. (2013). Fathers’ contributions to children’s social development. Handbook of Father Involvement: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 2, 151-167.
Oppenheimer, M. (2014, June 01). Relevant? Nurturing? Well, So’s Your Old Man . New York Times . Retrieved on 30 April 2018, from,
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/books/do-fathers-matter-shows-why-they-do.html.
