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Fatherlessness
According to David Blankenhorn, author of Fatherless America:
"Fatherlessness is the most destructive trend of our generation,"
The absence of fathers is linked to most social nightmares - from boys
with guns to girls with babies and some believe that no
welfare reform plan can cut poverty as thoroughly as a two-parent
family.
A large percentage of families with children headed by single mothers
live below the poverty line. And a number of studies show that a missing
father is a better predictor of criminal activity than race or poverty.
Social scientists have made similar links between a father's absence and
his child's likelihood of being a dropout, jobless, a drug addict, a
suicide victim, mentally ill and a target of child sexual abuse.
However, a father can be present but still absent. It is not enough to
provide and to be around the house. Children need the active
involvement, the emotional presence and guiding wisdom of fathers in
their lives.
Source:
Honor Thy Children
by Joseph P. Shapiro; Joannie M. Schrof; Mike Tharp; Dorian Friedman |
Feb 27 '95 edit June 7, 2006
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