While dads used to be responsible for supporting a family through work,
they are not often obligated to care for their kids. In a world that has
restructured the family unit, women are no longer responsible for staying
at home to tend to the children. In a typical 2012 family, if both parents
live at home with the children, then the home is operating on a dual-income
and both Mom and Dad work full-time. The children spend their days at
school and/or daycare, and then come home at about dinner time. Then,
the parents share the responsibility as caretakers because they are both
tired from a long day at work. For some dads, the pressure has been too much.
Oregon State University did a study on the evolving role of the father and found that most dads
can’t handle the pressure. They aren’t cut out to be a nurturer
and a provider and a caretaker at all hours of the day.
Oregon State proposes that the many responsibilities that have been tagged
onto fatherhood in recent years are partially to blame for the many “bad
dads” that are popping up all over the country. Some dads are angry
that their responsibilities have changed, and yet that their ultimate
goal is simply to be a provider. Most women are more concerned about the
alimony and child support in divorce than whether or not their husband
will be involved with the children through visitation after the split.
As well, men are most likely to stay detached from children that they
had outside of wedlock. While a mother is normally tied to her illegitimate
child, a father will normally split or will stay out of the picture when
it comes to raising a child. As findings become more and more clear, we
will be able to determine whether or not America can produce dependable
daddies that can provide for their spouse and their kids.