Grown-ups with testicles are more important for the family?
Most people assume that the mother is more important than a father in rearing children, probably going back to the idea that women are naturally better caretakers, and are closer to their children because they were once a part of them. When you read about the statistics of how children in a single parent household have a marked disadvantage to children with both parents, they are usually about homes that are fatherless, and a lot of statistics on fatherless homes are overwhelming in the disadvantage their absence leaves. This leads me to believe that fathers are actually more important than mothers in rearing a child, though of course, it's more beneficial to have both present. Are fathers more important for children?
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Well, there is a natural experiment going on right now, with many homosexual couples raising children. If fathers are more important than mothers, then we would expect to see the children of lesbian couples go off the rails, while the children of gay male couples become extremely well-adjusted.
Personally, I don't think that this will happen. My prediction is that children of homosexual couples will tend to turn out less well-adjusted than other children, but there will be no significant difference between children with two mothers and children with two fathers. This is because I think that the lack of being well-adjusted will be due to society judging them, rather than due to the family itself.
Kraichgauer
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While the mother is the care giver at home, the father provides an example of a worldly role model - for boys, it's how to behave like a respectable man - while for girls, it's a matter of providing an example of a desirable mate in later life.
I am not about to say, though, that same sex couples can't provide the same elements in a relationship with a child. And I think we all know that there are plenty of households with a mother and father in which children don't receive either nurture, or a good life example.
-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
Mummy_of_Peanut
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I'm not going say that my husband is more important than me, in the raising of our daughter. However, I will say he's essential to our household. If he was not here, I would not be able to do my job as a mother as well as I do it now. I would fail and my daughter would suffer. I simply wouldn't have the time to do all that I do, plus everything he does. I'd also need to work, so there would be even less time. If I was not here, my husband would struggle too, but in different ways. I'm better at some things and he's better at others (and it's not all down to me being a woman and him being a man). But, my husband is a very good Dad. He spends a lot of time with her. I doubt there are many men who do as much with their daughters as my husband does. Everything we do is centred on our child, except for the very occasional night out. My husband does not go out with mates down the pub or sit and watch football or anything else that would not involve her, when she's around. When they are together, he's playing, helping with homework, getting her ready for bed, etc. I do these things too, but when he comes home from work, his priority is spending time with her (I've had the after school time with her and, and during the holidays it's the whole day). When she goes to bed, the time left is for us.
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That's because men can't become pregnant by accident. Single parent households are not ideal, the majority of them are mother-only, and the most disadvantageous situations too.
To get a proper picture, we should compare households where the mother died to households where the father died -- men and women die equally and for similar reasons, so we would be comparing apples with apples, at least.
Mummy_of_Peanut
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That's because men can't become pregnant by accident. Single parent households are not ideal, the majority of them are mother-only, and the most disadvantageous situations too.
To get a proper picture, we should compare households where the mother died to households where the father died -- men and women die equally and for similar reasons, so we would be comparing apples with apples, at least.
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It is beginning to seem like testicles are a new obsessive topic.
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Last edited by AspieOtaku on 19 Jun 2012, 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Personally, I don't think that this will happen. My prediction is that children of homosexual couples will tend to turn out less well-adjusted than other children, but there will be no significant difference between children with two mothers and children with two fathers. This is because I think that the lack of being well-adjusted will be due to society judging them, rather than due to the family itself.
I don't think the experiment necessarily has to take place. Just look at the numbers.
http://thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com/statistics/
90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.
85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)
80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average. (Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)
71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average. (National Principals Association Report)
The numbers are pretty over whelming. For instance, if 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes, then that means all other situations account for 10%, with motherless homes only accounting for a portion of that.
What is more desirable, a fatherless home or a motherless home? Stats seems to overwhelmingly point that a motherless home is more likely to lead to a well adjusted child.
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Oodain
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A loving father is 'more important to children'
A study found that rejection by either parent has a profound effect on the development of children which lasts into adulthood. And a father's love is just as important to a child's personality as a mother's – and sometimes more so.
Seems to be backed up by the stats, but is the claim that small amount of motherless homes make the date look like the children fair a lot worse without a father?
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I don't think it matters whether a child has a male parent or a female parent in the home.
I think what matters is that a child has two parents. Male, female, biological, adopted, step or foster--these factors are far less important in my view than there being two adults who share responsibility for the child's happiness and welfare.
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I think what matters is that a child has two parents. Male, female, biological, adopted, step or foster--these factors are far less important in my view than there being two adults who share responsibility for the child's happiness and welfare.
I'm sure either way, motherless or fatherless, a child is at a disadvantage, but why does it seem that the fatherless children are much more at a disadvantage?
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Mummy_of_Peanut
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Last edited by Mummy_of_Peanut on 19 Jun 2012, 2:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Oodain
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