Negative Affect of Parent Absence on Society - Essay Example

An Overview of Parental Absenteeism as a Threat to the Society Introduction Parents in the modern society face concernsthat can be irritating. This has been noted to be the reason behind the constantly changing culture of the new generation. It is worth noting that raising children in the current world necessitates the effort and input of both parents more than ever to facilitate success. Nevertheless, it is noted that in today's world, single parent families are increasing at an alarming rate. However, this issue has been overlooked because the majority of the population has not been affected. With this, increases in crime, drug abuse pegged with domestic violence are also noted. Unfortunately, it is true to state that the duty of bringing up the children often falls under the mothers’ docket. This is because the mother has the maternal instincts to protect her young ones no matter the cost. As a result, more children end up with the mother as the single parent hence a father figure that is absent. This causes negative impacts to the children (Akins, Dianna and Gillian 7). Therefore, it is key to note that parental absence does not only affect the children and family dynamics, but in time, it may also have an indirect malevolent impact on the general public. Evaluation Children living in a single parent house have only a single role model, one confidant, one authoritarian and one shoulder to lean on when the road gets bumpy. Parents are vital to a child’s wellbeing because they are quintessential. A father's absence leads to male children to develop with no male direction. This is vital because the father figure aids in shaping how a boy transforms into a man. On the other side, female children have no model of what a decent man is in a dedicated relationship. In many examples of an absent father, the children in most cases are left to their own plans. As a result, these children can mature too soon owing to facing the actualities of life at a young age. A mother’s absence leads to the female children to have no female role model to look up to. Therefore, female issues that might affect the child fail to be aired. Moreover, females often grow up to be highly sexualized and promiscuous when they have an absent paternal figure. The parental direction that all children necessitate constantly is reduced and lacking when a parent is absent, simply because the remaining parent cannot be in all places at once (Farkhondeh 119). It is worth noting that the impact of parental absenteeism impacts children of different ages differently. According to Schenk et al, research has proven that children who are under the age of 5 years are most affected when one parent is absent, especially if the mother is the one absent (66). This is because children at this age are so dependent on the mother for her love, attention and affection. Therefore, when they miss such, they are affected. Moreover, these children suffer more devastating intrapsychological pegged with interpersonal difficulties. As a result, this could damage a child’s self-image pegged with its self-esteem. The research, furthermore, states that absence translates into stress, anxiety as well as major depressive disorder in adolescents and adults alike; which in turn affects their social lives. Regrettably, these kids get labelled with having mental disorders. As a result, they end up needing counselling and psychiatric help. Due to the labels, these children might be hindered from securing worthwhile jobs once in adulthood. Many people who are having difficulties finding jobs are more inclined to seeking and relying on public assistance, thusly falling victim to poverty. Moreover, research conducted by David and Orton has proven that children living with one parent, especially the mother, are six times more likely to be poor than children who live with both parents. It is worth noting that poverty leads to the children into the circumstances and doings that pose as a negative effect to them. Poverty might lead to the children to drop out of school. With the children idle, they turn into alcohol and drug abuse. They become carefree hence lead to a rise in teenage pregnancy and childbearing. Moreover, most of these children are sentenced to juvenile detention, mental illness and or suicide (David and Orton 56). However, for every action, there has to be an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, it is correct to say that some instances occur where parental absence makes children to strive. As a result, they put all their energy into something constructive hence become beneficial members of the society. While parental absenteeism has been documented to have the potential to trigger behavioural, mental and sociological conditions among the children affected, it will be unfair if we undermine the success stories of the numerous great people who were fatalities of parental absence or single parenthood (Schenk 78). It was noted that children who grow up without parents or in single parent households, they develop numerous skills that aid them in standing out once in the society. These are free thinking, problem solving, self-reliance, self-confidence, creativity, independence and a sense of adventure. Ironically, the United States where statistics of single parents are on the rise, it is increasing its gap as being the most powerful nation in the world. This goes a long way to cement the fact that parental absence does not impact the society negatively. It has been noted and documented that the majority of the children raised up by single parents shine in a lot of areas. It is worth noting that a large number of world-renowned personalities raised by single parents testifies that there does not exist a positive correlation between parental absence and one’s well-being or success in life. This list consists of such renowned personalities as the former American president Bill Clinton, Alicia Keys (Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter), Michael Phelps (American Swimming legend), Apolo Aton Ohno (the American Short Track Speed Skating competitor who has won a total of eight Olympic medals), and the American president Barack Obama (Costello 87). While there are threats involved in being nurtured in the absence of parents, the availability of an appropriate role model coupled with a positive environment more often than not compensate for this major handicap. In the absence of parental figures, the children turn to their teachers, peers or counsellors for solace and comfort. It can, therefore, be concluded that children who agonize from parental absence can cope up with their situation hence perform like others as long as that they do own adequate socioeconomic resources. It is essential to look at all potential complexities related with child comfort, rather than simply casting generalizations by pointing out the hostile effects of parental absence. Many researchers tend to find a positive connection between poor academic achievement and parental absence. On the other hand, factors such as social inequalities, poverty, racial discrimination, and marginalisation of children have a greater bearing on the overall well-being of children. While divorce and single parenthood are believed to have negative intellectual and social consequences for children a more positive environment and “the presence of a suitable role model in the life of a child being raised in a single parent family can overcome any of the negative effects of single parenthood” (Costello 23). It is also worthwhile to analyse the advantages of being brought up independent of unnecessary parental involvement. Such children are likely to develop more of original thinking, problem solving skills, self-reliance, self-confidence, creativity, independence and sense of adventure than their counterparts who are brought up under strict parental supervision. It is, therefore, imperative that further researches are undertaken to know how and in what ways parental absence benefit children as they grow up independent of parental supervision. Conclusion Children are our future and many will become leaders in our world. However, the future is at stake when we refuse to take action on child abandonment and continue to ignore its consequences. This is because according to religious studies, families are the backbone of any society. Therefore, people ought to preserve the notion of a family and stick through thick and thin for the benefit of their children. Moreover, parental absenteeism on the children can decipher into effects to the society. Children who have no father figure can turn onto drugs hence become thieves. Moreover, females who have no father figure have been noted to turn into prostitution for solace. Therefore, with thieves and prostitutes loitering our society, crime is bound to increase significantly. This can be seen in a research conducted by Schenk et al, who noted that in areas where the population was mainly composed of single parents, there was a parallel all-time high in crime. Therefore, parental absenteeism causes a negative and significant effect to the society as a whole (Schenk et al. 107). Works Cited Akins, Faren R, Dianna L. Akins, and Gillian S. Mace. Parent-child Separation: Psychosocial Effects on Development: an Abstracted Bibliography. New York: IFI/Plenum, 1981. Print. Costello, Liza. A Literature Review of Children's Well-Being. Combat Poverty Agency, 1999. Print. David, James R, and John W. Orton. Parent Absence. U.S. Army, HQ., 7th Medical Command, N.Y, 1981. Web. !0th December 2013. Jokhan, Mala. "Parental Absence As a Consequence of Death: Reviewing the Literature." Social and Economic Studies. (2008): 89-117. Print. Mofidi, Farkhondeh. Effects of Divorce and the Consequent Absence of One Parent on the Language Development of 3-5 Year Old Nursery School Children. , 1980. Print. Schenk, Mary K et al. "Does Absence Matter?" Human Nature. 24.1 (2013): 76-110. Print. Wiersma, Jacqueline D. The Effects of Father Absence: A Literature Review. Ancaster, Ont: s.n., 1990. Print. Wong, Joy E. The Effect of Father Absence on the Personality of Male Adolescents. , 1984. Print. Read More