How the Loss of a Job Affects a Man's Role as a Father

Research Question: How does the loss of a job affect a man’s role as a father? 

Parents play a critical role in shaping the livelihood of their children. Just like mothers, fathers have a significant role in the psychological and physical development of their children. Traditionally, fathers served as families’ breadwinners and conveyed moral values upon their children. Among the diverse cultures, the role of fathers was almost similar, with the task of providing for children through work. Fathers also played the role of security figures within their respective families. Today, men have retained their role in providing for their families through employment or businesses. Fathers provide financial support, which helps in maintaining their children and spouses. Fathers also help in building emotional and moral guidance to their children. Economic recessions and social occurrences like the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to loss of employment among many Americans. Due to the fathers’ role in society, job losses could have detrimental consequences on these families. The fathers’ ability to provide for their families is cut short, thus affecting their fatherhood role. 

Job loss may affect the mental health of children and spouses. Fathers play a significant role in shaping their children's mental stability, whereby their job stability creates peace among the family members (Bubonya, Cobb-Clark, & Wooden 2017). The father’s financial income is cut short through job loss, which could lead to economic turmoil and increased financial stress among all the family members. Children are unable to complete their studies with ease, while the wife feels financial insecurity. The contemporary world expects men to provide for their families; hence a job loss cuts the family’s income, brews marital conflicts, and causes mental consequences among all the family members. 

In their examination of the effects of job loss on children’s school performance, Rege, Telle, & Votruba, (2011), establish a connection between the father’s job loss and poor performance. Fathers’ economic stability is a great contributor to the academic and social life of their children. A father maintains a child’s mental stability through school fees and other forms of academic support. Job losses could make fathers unable to perform these roles, thus affecting their families. Rege et al. (2011) also argue that children are unable to concentrate on their classes due to the economic insecurities posed to their fathers. Hence, job losses affect the role of a father as an academic contributor to their children. 

Heinrich (2014) discusses the relationship between employment and the children’s wellbeing. In his argument, Heinrich applies empirical data from various sources, which builds the credibility of his paper. Heinrich shows the connection between a father’s role in child support and employment. Fathers provide for their children by working in good-paying jobs. The inability to provide for children invites the child care services that separate them from the parents. Job loss may make a father incapable of tending for the family, leading to the placement of the children in child-care stations. The social-policy changes like child neglect and abuse policies have grown strict over the years, making it impossible for economically unstable fathers to live with their children. Hence job losses will eventually lead to the separation of children from their fathers. 

The last decade has seen massive pressure from civil organizations, demanding that companies and government agencies provide fathers with paid leaves. Due to the nature of their jobs, most fathers have limited time with their children. Dave, (2019), examines the reasons why fathers need paying leaves, and his examination provides an insight into the effect of job losses on fatherhood. Dave’s paper is highly relevant, due to its application of reliable information. Job losses for fathers who have saved enough money for their families could increase their time with children. However, for the economically unstable fathers, job losses could have detrimental consequences on family stability. 

Michael Luo’s reporting on the effect of job losses on a family reflects on Mr. Bachmuth, a 45-year older man in New York City. After losing his job, Bachmuth states that his 9-year and 12-year old daughters started showing negative psychological consequences like becoming angrier and self-destructive. A father’s job provides mental stability for children, who can reflect upon their future based on their father’s financial ability. When fathers lose their jobs, children develop fear about their future, thus leading to the psychological and mental shifts among young and older children. The source shows high credibility with good sourcing of information. 

Fathers are responsible for their children’s wellbeing; hence job losses affect their overall wellbeing. Nikolova and Nikolaev, (2018), review how unemployment affects a family. A father performs the role of uniting a family through the provision of economic and social security. Job loss for most fathers, therefore, is catastrophic due to the negative economic and psychological effects. Fathers experience psychological shifts when they think about their inability to provide for their families. Consequently, the connection between the fathers and the family members shifts massively. This scholarly article is highly essential in defining the consequences of job losses among fathers. 

Fathers also play a critical role in shaping the careers of their children. According to Skarnulis (2020), the fatherhood style affects children's ability to maintain their careers and show good performance. When fathers lose their jobs at young ages, children could be separated from them, thus affecting their socioeconomic capabilities. With these shifts, children show poor job performances due to the social stability within their family base. 

Fathers play a significant role in shaping the economics of the family. Job losses lead to the suffering of children, and fathers being more involved in their families' economic support, their job losses affect children adversely. Melson (2014) begins his evaluation of this topic by discussing the US economic recession's impacts. During the recession, more than 42% of American children lived below the global poverty lines. Males were more affected by this recession, according to statistics. Job losses, lower the inability of parents to cater to their families, thus making children suffer, which is a factor that fathers prevent through their jobs. 

Job losses affect a father’s physical and mental stability, thus weakening their ability to perform the fatherly roles. According to Vinopal (2018), a working father has better mental and physical health than the one who has lost a job. Fathers with jobs know that their role within a family is protected, and they can ensure stability within their families. Losing jobs implies that a father cannot perform his initial duties, which leads to mental instability. Fathers develop depression, as they contemplate on their children and spouses’ perception of their job losses. With poor mental and physical health, fathers cannot adequately perform their duties. Vinopal’s article is critical in understanding the mental and physical consequences of job losses among parents. 

The phrase, “Father Figure,” has been used on numerous occasions to refer to fathers' role in instilling physical and emotional stability within their families. Krisch (2020) examines the connection between a dad and the phrase, “Father Figure.” Since ancient times, motherhood has been used to define parenting, with fathers taking minimal roles in the parenting of their children. However, this century has witnessed increased involvement of fathers in parenting. Fathers have continued to close the parenting gap with mothers. Job losses could lead to devotion, thus cutting the “father figure” role from a child. Krisch’s article has minimal credibility, with vagueness and limited citation to other sources. 

Fathers’ loss of jobs affects their role of providing various utilities to a family. Loss of jobs could lead to the loss of housing, career, and income. In this reporting, Kaiser examines the long term effects of fathers losing their job. Using research studies, Kaiser (2012) establishes that fathers who lose their jobs affect child development and adulthood. However, Kaiser focuses on the positive effects of losing a job. He argues children who are raised by fathers could have better developmental outcomes than those raised in care facilities. However, the positive impacts of losing a job are also experienced when the mother has a stable income, thus helping the father support the family. 

According to Behr (2006), being a good father has detrimental effects on one’s career. In arriving at the impact of job losses on a family’s stability, Behr’s news articles focus on fathers' parenting techniques. Behr states that fathers have limited time with their children, due to the high-demands by their jobs. Consequently, when they have time with their children, they are often viewed as limiting their working time. In essence, Behr argues that losing a job could lead to positive outcomes in parenting, whereby children develop with morals instilled by their fathers. 

According to Best (2019), more than half of the world's fathers have faced massive criticism due to their parenting techniques. Most fathers in the current era support their children through financing, which implies that they have limited time with them. Fathers have therefore become less involved in child development, with most time spend in their jobs. Hence losing a job could be an opportunity for fathers to uphold their parenting roles. Best’s article is critical in understanding the parenting roles of a father. 

Holly Houston (2020) discusses the emotional effects of losing a job. In his examination of the study topic, Houston establishes that all family members are equally affected by such losses. The psychological outcome of a father’s job loss is gradual changes in family structure, affecting the children’s well-being. The father’s role is thus threatened through job losses, with children being separated from their friends in the neighborhoods and schools. Houston’s article shows poor referencing and credibility. 

Announcing a job loss to the children could result in massive emotional and psychological torture. In the ABC News reporting, Goldman (2009) examines how a 39-year older man was confronted by an 8-year old son who noticed the shifting organization within their family. In this reporting, the father had to announce to the children that he had lost his job, which contributed to emotional drifts within the children. A father must ensure the emotional, physical, and social well-being of children; hence, losing a job affects a father's ability to perform this role. 

References 

Behr, R. (2006). Is being a good Dad ruining your Career? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/jun/11/familyandrelationships.features 

Best, T. (2019). More than Half of Fathers Receive Criticism on Parenting Style: Study. Good Morning America. https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/half-fathers-receive-criticism-parenting-style-study-63629312 

Bubonya, M., Cobb-Clark, D. A., & Wooden, M. (2017). Job loss and the mental health of spouses and adolescent children. IZA Journal of labor economics ,  6 (1), 6. https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/195040/1/89088191X.pdf 

Dave, S. (2020). Fathers need Paid Family and Medical Leave. National Partnership for Women & Families. https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/resources/economic-justice/paid-leave/fathers-need-paid-family-and-medical-leave.pdf 

Goldman, R. (2009). Well Kids, I Lost My Job. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=7881907&page=1 

Heinrich, C. J. (2014). Parents’ Employment and Children’s Wellbeing. Education Resource Information Center. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1029033.pdf 

Houston, H. (2020). How Losing a Job affects a Family. Anxiety & Stress Center, P.C. https://anxiety-stresscenter.com/the-impact-of-job-loss-on-families/ 

Kaiser, E. (2012). How Does Unemployment affect Children? MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/10/29/daily-circuit-children-unemployed 

Krisch, J. A. (2020). The Science of Dad and the “Father Effect.” Fatherly. https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/science-benefits-of-fatherhood-dads-father-effect/ 

Luo, M. (2009). Job Woes Exacting a Toll on Family Life. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/12families.html 

Melson, G. F. (2014). Parents Lose Jobs, and Children Suffer. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-the-wild-things-are/201401/parents-lose-jobs-and-children-suffer 

Nikolova, M. & Nikolaev, B. (2020). How Having Unemployed Parents affects Children’s Future well-being. Brooking. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2018/07/13/how-having-unemployed-parents-affects-childrens-future-well-being/ 

Rege, M. Telle, K. & Votruba, M. (2011). Parental Job Loss and Children’s School Performance. Oxford University Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41407068.pdf 

Skarnuliz, L. (2020). Dad’s Impact on Your Career. Web MD. https://www.webmd.com/men/features/dads-impact-on-career#1 

Vinopal, L. (2018). What Unemployment Dos to a Father’s Mental and Physical Health. Fatherly. https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/what-happens-body-lose-your-job/