Impact of Fatherless Homes on the Child - Essay Example

Impact of Fatherless Homes on the Child s There is a father factor in almost all social issues that are facing America today. Fathers are very crucial figures at home. They usually offer guidance and protection to the home. Children who come from homes that have no fathers often face numerous challenges in life. The lack of a father’s presence in the home is often thought to be the cause of numerous social problems, ranging from crime, teenage pregnancies, child abuse, to violence, and poor academic performance. Children with no fathers at home tend to perform poorly in school, have higher chances of dropping out of school, are more vulnerable depression and other emotional problems, have an early sexual debut, and have difficulties in developing successful relationships. The other effects of no father in the home are the increased chances of the child to engagement in delinquent behavior, early teenage pregnancies attempted or successful suicides, poor social and psychological development, and juvenile incarcerations. The economic consequence of a fathers absence is poverty. Most of the children from the fatherless homes live in poverty. Fatherlessness is literally destroying the nation by tearing the children apart physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. Therefore, a fatherly presence and love is a vital element in predicting the social, cognitive, emotional development and functioning of a child or young adult. Introduction The United States is soaked in crime, poverty, drugs, and other socio-economic problems. However, more than anything else it all comes down to the absence of a father. A family is usually a complete unit with the presence of a fatherly figure. Therefore, the absence of a father may result in a myriad of problems for the family. According to the U.S Department of Census, 1.43% of American children are living devoid of the father. The statistics further indicate that about 90% of the homeless as well as runaway children are from the fatherless homes. A father is a parent most plausible to be the children’s protector. The presence of a father places the child at a lesser risk of drug addiction, sexual abuse, theft, early pregnancies, incarceration, and being runaways, as well as drop out of school among other vices. As a result, they tend to reduce the delinquent behavior. Nobody denies that these children who grow up in the fatherless homes are at a greater risk of facing major challenges in life in contrast to those who grow up with a father at home. A fatherly figure is crucial for a child’s development. When a father is available, he may offer economic support for their children in addition to assuming care giving and emotional duties. Well-fathered children have been found to be more emotionally intelligent and socially successful as they develop into adulthood. When fathers are absent, their absence may negatively impact childrens gender-specific development, academic progress, general behavioral adjustment, and anger management. Therefore, drawing on a variety of sources the paper will discuss fatherless homes and its effects on the child. Discussion In the last ten years, single parenthood has increased tremendously. Every year, about 1.5 million children are being born to unmarried women (Barajas, 2011). Recently, the Americans polled that the physical absence of fathers is the most serious problem that the American families are currently facing. Based on the recent study by the U.S Department of Census, an estimated 44% of children residing in the U.S live without their father. 27% of absent fathers live in a dissimilar state than their children, and 90% of the children have reported never seeing them for more than 2 years (Oden, 2014). In this perspective, about 455 of the children in the fatherless homes have not seen their fathers in the past one year. Of the 24 million children in the U.S, one in every three lives in a home with no father. 9 out 10 American parents share the view that this is a ‘crisis’ (Eneli, 2010). Fatherless factor in education The presence of a father plays a very part in the academic development of a child. Children who come from father-absent homes are have tendency to perform poorly in school. Children with no fathers are predisposed to score poorly on standardized tests and to receive lower grades in school. In the same way, these children who grow up fatherless are one-tenth less likely to get a grade of A in the school. Furthermore, the school performance of children who have had their parents separated after a divorce and the father removed from the house usually fall dramatically (Barajas, 2011). Boys and girls with not fathers are twice as likely to drop out of high school (Watson, 2011). According to the National Principals Association Report on the State High Schools, 73% of high school dropouts came from homes with no fathers. Moreover, according to data from the Massey University, 75% of high school drop outs come from families with no fathers. Howard, Burke, Borkowski, and Whitman (2006) posit that the father-child relationship is crucial in a child’s academic performance. The absence of the child-father contact results in poor academic performance from the child. Sowers (2013) reports that children with no fathers are 55% more likely to repeat a grade in school, less likely to get A’s in school, more likely to be excluded from school, and are less at odds to enjoy school and engage in extracurricular activities. Equally important, a study by Ralph McNeal took into consideration the sex, age, race, socio-economic status, and ability of high school students from fatherless homes and reported that these children were 1.8 times more likely to drop out of school as compared to their corresponding partners living with both parents. A decrease in academic performance, such as failure to excel in the cognitive skills and grades are cumulative in nature and usually predict truancy and grade repetition. Luster and McAdoo (2004) observe that in comparison to students from mother and father homes, African-American children from single-parent households are significantly at odds to engage in troublesome behavior and perform badly in their academics. Low academic performance may result in the children ending up in lowly paying jobs repeating the illegitimacy cycle of fatherless homes since they cannot support their children. Fatherless factor in drug and alcohol abuse A report by the Rainbows for all God’s Children found out that 76% of all the adolescent patients in the chemical abuse centers came from homes with no fatherly presence. Teenagers living in homes with no father are more likely to abuse alcohol and other related drugs at a tender age in comparison to boys and girls from homes with both parents (Hope, Power, & Rodgers, 1998). The absence of a fatherly figure in the household impacts considerably negative on the adolescents behavior and leads to increased of marijuana and other intoxicants. At Columbia University, researchers came to a conclusion that even children who were living both their parents, but had poor connections with their fathers had 70% greater chances of smoking, drinking, or abusing other drugs. However, the risk was much higher in single mother households by over 40% than those in both-parent households. On the contrary, youths with two biological parents are less likely to use illegal drugs and alcohol than teenagers living with single parents. However, the risks of youth substance abuse and dependence, in addition treatment for drug addiction is higher among boys and girls who only live with their mother. The Bureau of the Census reports that 90% of runaway and homeless children are from household with no father. These children have been found to be abuse drugs. Father factor in social development About 85 percent of adolescents in the psychiatric medical facilities come from broken homes. This means that the relationship between the mother and father has been disrupted. Boys and girls who come from fatherless homes are four times more likely in need of help for emotional or behavioral problems (Johnson, 2011). Howard, Burke, Borkowski, and Whitman (2006) argue that the father-child relationship is crucial in a child’s socio-emotional development. The results showed that fatherless children experienced more behavioral problems. Fatherhood is a factor in emotional and behavioral development. Osborne and McLanahan (2007) used data from the three waves to study the occurrence and impacts of the changing mothers’ relationship between birth and three years of the well being of their children. The study found out that the children who were born from single mother exhibited increased levels of aggressive behaviors in contrast to the kids born to married mothers. Furthermore, the researcher evidenced that a livelihood in single mother homes is similar to experiencing 5.25 times partnerships transitions. According to the U.S Centre for Disease Control, an estimated 87% of the children who show behavioral disorders come from homes that have no fathers. An analysis of the National Child Development Study found that low self-esteem, metal ailments, and stress related illnesses are predominant in the fatherless homes. The common mental sicknesses manifested by a child living in home with no father include depression, moodiness, and anxiety. As cited by Turker et al. (2007), children from single-mother homes are significantly more likely to experience conduct and mood disorders. This effect is especially strong for children whose fathers left the home when they were five years old or younger. Besides, the fatherless children are 2.5 times more likely to be unhappy and show hostility to other children. In the current population, the negative effect of divorce is the child loosing contact with one of the parents. When a child loses contact with the father, depression and other psychological disorders usually set in. These children often suffer from emotional distress. The emotional insecurity in the children can be the contributing factors in deteriorating educational achievements, alcohol and substance abuse, and criminal behavior (Chase-Lansdale, Cherlin, & Kiernan, 2005. The criminal behaviors come about as a result of low self-esteem and thus the need to prove to their peers that they are also tough. Therefore, the physical insecurity is as a result of low self-confidence, low motivation, low self-esteem, and depression. There is an increased probability that these children would require psychological treatment (Stephenson & Loewenthal, 2006). Equally important, psychologists have reviewed that boys who grow in a fatherless home are more to be expected having trouble establishing suitable sexual roles as well as gender identity than those living with both parents. The absence of a father in the home elevates the conflict in child-sex roles. Most children with no fathers are struggling to establish their gender identity. The absence of a father has lead to a significant increase in the possibility of homosexual behavior in females and males, as well. It is not just the participation of the father that matters, but the constant presence of a father. Fatherless homes impact negatively on the social settings. There has have been increased anti-marriage and male-hating feminists. The increased campaigns of these people have resulted in girls having difficulties creating a stable family in adulthood. The heightened feminist campaigns have also increased the cases of same sex relationships among the youth (Sowers, 2013). In the light of the increased male-hating feminists due to irresponsible fathers, it is easy to see that fatherlessness is also a contributing factor to homosexual behavior. Fatherless factor in teenage sexual behavior Single mothers, on one occasion lauded by the iconic feminist, Murphy Brown, have finally produced their socially ‘poisoned fruits’. Most teenagers from single-motherhood households are engaging in early sexual activity. In a study of 800 adolescents, Carol reported that in comparison to families with two biological parents living in the home; teenage boys and girls from single-parent households have been reported to participate more in earlier sexual activity. Correspondingly, the number was even greater in fatherless homes (Carol, 2010). A research by Teachman (2004) reports that being raised by single mother increases the chances of getting pregnant while still a teenager and marrying with less than a high school degree. The researcher also noted that the resultant marriage had both partners having less that a high school degree, as well. Girls who are aged 14-20 years and are raised in households where there is no father are importantly more expected to be married and not complete college. Oden (2014) asserts that daughter from the single-motherhood household are 58% more likely to be married as teenagers. Besides that, 168% more likely to procure a premarital birth in addition to 95% more likely to dissolve their marriages. As a result, these intergenerational outcomes of fatherlessness increases the probability of chronic welfare dependency of single-mothers’ households. Proceeding further, the young girls raised in home with both a father and mother are considerably less expected to be sexually active as compared to those girls raised with no fathers. Statistics from the U.S department of Health and Human Services (U.S D.H.H.S) demonstrate that 72% of teenage pregnancies are from youths who have no father figures. To that effect, teenage boys risk an 80% to 100% increase in the likelihood of fathering an illegitimate child. For that reason, the father-absence cycle continues for another generation. In case they marry, the teenage girls run a 95% risk of divorce. Therefore, they also continue the risks of the divorce cycle. Unless an intervention is initiated, the vicious cycle of fatherless households is carried to another generation or generation to come. Fatherless factor in incarceration In 2012, the survey carried out by the Department of Justice found out that of the 8000 inmates evaluated, 40% lived with their mothers. According to Harper and McLanahan (2004), youths who have grown up in homes without fathers are twice as likely to end up in a detention center as compared to those who come from the traditional two-parent families. Even after managing the income, the researcher found out that children from the father-absent families have significantly higher chances of incarceration in contrast those in the mother-father households. Pursuing this further, studies have demonstrated repeatedly a consistent relationship between juvenile delinquent behavior, incarceration, and fatherless homes. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations 2014 report on juvenile crimes, 75% of the juveniles in the state prisons have no fathers. Besides that, 86% of the juveniles who are currently in jail grew up in homes with no fathers. In the past decade, the number of minors in the states’ detention facilities has doubled. This is attributed to the increasing number of single-mother homes. The increased number of absentee fathers in the homes is resulting in more children engaging in punishable behaviors that often land them in prisons. As a result, Diamond (2006) shares the evidence that there is a proportionate relationship between the number of youths in penitentiary institutions and number of fatherless homes. Father factor in crime Certainly, the correlation between family structure and crime is so strong that controlling the family pattern obliterates the relationship poverty and crime. Bush, Mullis, and Mullis (2000) carried out a study on 109 youthful offenders and concluded that family structure considerably predicts delinquency. In other words, a disrupted family structure often leads the children to engage in crime. This is because there is no guiding figure in the family. Therefore, a child coming from a home with no father has higher chances of engaging in crime. Youths in the father-absent household, especially boys are often at higher risk of engaging in juvenile criminal behavior. They are often found culpable in property together with person delinquent behavior. The problems of not having a father are so harsh to the extent that can lead to a 90% increase in the possibility that a child will become a psychotic delinquent. Hoffmann (2002) observes that even after controlling the community context, it was found out that there more drug and alcohol abuse among children who come from single-parenthoods; especially absent-fathers’ homes. Smith and Jarjoura (2008) argue that the proportion of single parent households in the society is a major indicator of crime levels in that community. The more number of households with no father, the higher the cases of violent crime combined with burglary. The other recognized statistics of the ills that affect the society due to no father in the home consist of; homeless and runaway children, youths in incarceration facilities, rapists, and an increase in the odds that may be involved in gang activity. All these activities are punishable by law irrespective of the age of the offender. These social vices impact negatively on the society, thus showing the deleterious effects of fatherless homes. The federal criminal research records have reported that 90% of the juvenile repeat arsonists live without their father. According to juvenile criminal records, 73% of teenage murderers grew up with no fathers According to the federal laws, committing suicide is a crime. However, it has been evidenced that 64% of youth suicides are from the fatherless homes. Children living in households with no fathers are more expected to commit suicide as compared to their peers who come from two-parent homes. Boys and girls who grow in homes with no father are five times more probably to commit suicide. Brent et al. (2005) examines 146 adolescents and reports that 455 of them who have suicide tendencies come from fatherless homes. The attempted or successful suicides can be attributed to low self-esteem that is suffered by both boys and girls. Fatherless factor in physical and child abuse Every year, more than 2 million cases of alleged child abuse are reported (Oden, 2014). The society has come to realize through these statistics that father-absence is a destructive force in the community. There is a link between father absence and child abuse. In comparison to those children living in a father-mother household, a child living in a father-absent home is highly at odds to suffer from emotional, physical, and educational neglect. A study of Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study reveals that in most cases, the absence of a fatherly figure is a major contributing factor to the increased risk of child maltreatment. The results suggest that in families with a no father figure, there is a higher risk of abuse and neglect of the children. The overall rate of child abuse in fatherless homes is 28.5 children per 1,000. On the other hand, the overall abuse rate in the mother-father homes is 13.2 per 1,000 (Oden, 2014). This implies that children from households with no father suffer significantly of child abuse as a result of an absence of a father in the home. In other words, children are at greater risk of physical abuse in households where there are no fathers. The relationship is also proportionate with the rise in the number of child abuse case corresponding to an increase in the number fatherless households. Boys and girls who come from father-absent homes receive less supervision and protection from their mothers. Consequently, this leaves them emotionally deprived and vulnerable to sexual abusers. Even a responsible absentee father cannot supervise the children the manner in which a live-in father can. Neither is he able to have that kind of relationship with his daughter or son which is usually required to give them a foundation of emotional security as well as a model for the non-sexual relationships with men, especially for their daughters. 38% of the abused children come from homes that have no fathers while 21% come from homes where there is a stepfather or the mother has a boyfriend (Yampolskaya, Greenbaum, & Berson, 2009). Children who grow up in homes with no fathers are 6 times more likely to become runaways. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, over 90% of the homeless along with runaway children come from fatherless homes. Criminal researchers have evidenced that 83% of the rapists motivated with anger of displacement often come from homes without fathers. It has been reported that boys who have grown up with no father figures are five times more likely to be rapists. According to Fergusson, Lynskey, and Horwood (1996), there is a correlation between child abuse and psychiatric disorders. It has been evidenced the children who often suffer from sexual abuse are the ones from fatherless households. As a result, these young boys have a tendency to develop psychiatric orders that may lead them it to become rapists. Psychological studies have shown that most rapists usually suffer from certain psychological disorders. Father factor in poverty The absence of fathers is among the most important issues that is facing America today. The devastating effects of fatherly absence can be manifested across the U.S. Most fatherless children are trapped in an unending cycle of poverty. Poverty is a contributing factor for crime and other social evils. As cited by Eneli (2010), the fatherless children are four times more probable to live in poverty as compared to children who are living with the two parents. Based on the National Commission on Children statistics, approximately 74% of children in the United States living in single-motherh families experience poverty before they attain the age of 20 years in contrast to the two-parent families who only 175 will experience the same at 20 years. As observed by Gartner (2011), 47% of families headed by a single mother lived below the poverty line. This is in contrast with 7% of those with both parents. In 2013, 12% of children living were in father-mother household, while 45% of the children were living in fatherless homes. Since most children from absent-fathers homes are poor and live in poverty, they are more likely to experience unemployement, be on income support, and on chronic welfare dependency. The children’s experience of poverty in childhood is in turn related to homelessness in adulthood (Oden, 2014). Therefore, the economic consequences of a fathers absence are often accompanied by psychological costs, such as poor academic performance, more than average levels of youth suicide, low self-esteem, increased levels of mental sickness, delinquent behavior, alcohol and drug use. Conclusion In summary, the greatest natural resource for any nation lies in its children. Anything that affects the children impacts on the nation, as well. Most children are affected by the absence of a father in the home. The fatherless homes have negative effects on the child. The responsible fatherhood research literature generally supports the claim that the presence of a father improves the outcomes for a child, while the absence of a father impacts negatively on the development of a child. Children who have fathers at home have a tendency to perform better in the academic endeavors, are less prone to depression and other psychological problems, and are more successful in establishing relationships. There is a direct relationship between violent crime, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, and a father’s absence. Fatherless children are at higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse, develop a delinquent behavior, and engage in violent crime. Children who have no father are twice as likely to end up in jail. The other effects of a fatherless household to the child are increased suicides, mental ailments, poor academic performance, early sexual activity, mood disorders, teenage, pregnancy, and criminality. Boys and girls with not fathers are twice as likely to drop out of high school. Boys and girls who come from fatherless homes are four times more likely in need of help for emotional or behavioral problems. Children who come from single-motherhood households are poor and are often unemployed in adulthood. Promoting responsible fatherhood is necessary in order for the fathers to play a role in the growth and development of the children. Therefore, the federal and state regulations, non-profit organizations, and commissions, combined with advocacy institutions are supposed to come up with strategies that will ensure the fathers are kept at home. This will reduce incidences of juvenile delinquency, early sexual activity, poor academic performance, crime, and child abuse among others. Free parenting education can be provided to the indigent teen as well as incarcerated fathers. 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