Daddy We Need You!!

In today's society many of the youth in America, especially the black youth, grow up in a female headed household. In other words, many children grow up in a home in which there is no male father figure. I was personally raised in a house with a mother, father, and sometimes a grandmother, because she would move out and move back in. I have lived in many parts of the city of Chicago and also the suburb of Maywood. Throughout my life I was aware of the fact that I was blessed to have a father in my life, but I did not truly understand the benefits until I got older. I saw how my friends were being raised and how I was being raised, and there were noticeable differences. Now, I am not saying that if a person is raised without a father figure that they are doomed in life. I am simply saying that a child needs their mother and father while they are young. There are certain things that a mother can teach their child that a father cannot, and vice versa. According to many sociologist female headed households is another problem that the black community suffers against. But, is it safe to say that females raising their children on their own is a new trend in this society? Well sometimes it may seem that way. There are a number of females that have babies and decided to raise them without their father because of something that happened between them two. I just feel that parents need to learn to settle their differences for the benefit of the child. According to the book, The Truly Disadvantaged, by William Julius Wilson, the author explains on page 64 that in the 1940's divorce and separation were not common. As the years progress the number of female headed households continue to increase across the United States. I understand that this is not only an African American problem, but African American are the ones who have the highest rates and tend to suffer the most. Now, it is easy to tell someone they need a partner when raising a child, but your advice may not be taken lightly because the woman may feel they can handle it alone. There are a number of factors that contribute to the high number of female headed households. For example, Wilson explains that out-of-wedlock births is a major problem in poverty stricken communities. It makes sense though because it is not as easy for a poor girl from a poor neighborhood to receive contraceptives, advice, or abortions as it is for a middle class white girl. There are not many clinics in the poor neighborhoods so many of the young black women are getting pregnant and having children at a young age, which is another contributing factor to female headed households. Divorce and separation is a major issue within the black community. When couple get divorced that should not be an excuse for men to not take care of their children. I just feel that just because a man separates from their wife they should not separate from their child. There are also many women that have children and never get married. Another major problem in the black community is that the number of female headed households increased so significantly throughout history. In other words, in today's society many young women are raised by their mother only which may make them feel that they too can raise a child without a man present. As I stated before it is not impossible to raise children without a father figure, but it is unfair to the child. According to Wilson female headed households also contribute to the poverty level. He explains on page 72 that female headed households are more likely to be in poverty. There are many benefits to raising children with both a mother and father. For example, there are two incomes in the household, there is male discipline, and also male influence on the children to name a few. One thing that surprised me when reading chapter three by Wilson was when he related black female headed households to slavery. I was confused because he then says that in slavery times blacks had a strong family bound, which is true, so how exactly does slavery relate to female headed households. To sum it up, female headed households are a major problem in America especially in the black communities. I feel that every child should grow up with a male father figure in their life, and I also feel that it will make them a better person.     

This link relates to my topic: 

http://www.fathers.com/statistics-and-research/the-extent-of-fatherlessness/