How Important Are Fathers?: Something to Think About for Father's Day

In recent years, more women are deciding to have and raise  children on their own. This is accomplished either through artificial insemination or by searching for a man to have sex with for the sole purpose of becoming pregnant. This has led to debate about the importance of men in the rearing of children. Some (and I am among them) fear that fathers are being reduced to the role of sperm donor and disregarded as an important factor in parenting.

Fatherhood research: "Survey says...!"

An in-depth study by Dr. Anil Jain, of the Canadian Psychological Association, points to a range of benefits for children who have active fathers in their lives, such as greater ambition, more respect for the opposite sex, a stronger sexual identity, higher self-esteem, and fewer behavioural problems. Dr. Jain even goes further, stating that these benefits have to do with the specific role of father more than with simply having a second person parenting. (Dr. Jain intends to publish his findings in a paper later this year.)

This by no means undermines the role of a mother in a child’s life. This also does not mean that a single woman, or a lesbian couple, cannot raise a child. What is important to remember, though, is that the role of a father is also essential in the raising of a child, and that, if at all possible, a father should be part of the equation when it comes to a child’s upbringing.