Father Absenteeism
Tia Gibson
English 1010
May 2, 2011
Father Absenteeism in the Lives of African Americans The absence of a father in an African-American family is very common today. Father absenteeism dates back to early 1900s. Researchers Mandara, Murray and Joyner points out “single mothers have headed a significant percentage of African American families since the 1960s…” (qtd. in Tucker and Mitchell-Kernan 209). According to a 2003 survey, researchers declare that 69 % of black students live without their father compared to other ethnic groups (DeBell 427). There are a few reasons a child is raised in a single mother household. Most times couples who have conceived children do not remain in a relationship. Married couples may have gotten divorced before the child becomes school age. Sometimes the biological father has died before the child is able to develop a relationship. Many will agree that a child will benefit more when there are both parents in the home to raise the child. Economic and emotional issues will arise in the latter life of a child, and the effects may negatively impact their relationships and their stability. The absenteeism of a father in the household of African-American families affects the mother’s ability to support, the child’s behavior and the child choosing a significant other in the future. A mother’s stability of support is compromised when the father is absent from the home. A family with only one income can be financially burdensome when taking care of children. The financial burden will also depend on which side of the income bracket a single mother is categorized and how many children she is responsible for taking care of. It is nearly impossible to take care of more than one child if a single mother’s income is in a low-income bracket. Also, having a father in the household with a second income to provide financially can make a big difference in the lives of the parents and the children. Mothers sometimes obtain jobs making minimum wage
English 1010
May 2, 2011
Father Absenteeism in the Lives of African Americans The absence of a father in an African-American family is very common today. Father absenteeism dates back to early 1900s. Researchers Mandara, Murray and Joyner points out “single mothers have headed a significant percentage of African American families since the 1960s…” (qtd. in Tucker and Mitchell-Kernan 209). According to a 2003 survey, researchers declare that 69 % of black students live without their father compared to other ethnic groups (DeBell 427). There are a few reasons a child is raised in a single mother household. Most times couples who have conceived children do not remain in a relationship. Married couples may have gotten divorced before the child becomes school age. Sometimes the biological father has died before the child is able to develop a relationship. Many will agree that a child will benefit more when there are both parents in the home to raise the child. Economic and emotional issues will arise in the latter life of a child, and the effects may negatively impact their relationships and their stability. The absenteeism of a father in the household of African-American families affects the mother’s ability to support, the child’s behavior and the child choosing a significant other in the future. A mother’s stability of support is compromised when the father is absent from the home. A family with only one income can be financially burdensome when taking care of children. The financial burden will also depend on which side of the income bracket a single mother is categorized and how many children she is responsible for taking care of. It is nearly impossible to take care of more than one child if a single mother’s income is in a low-income bracket. Also, having a father in the household with a second income to provide financially can make a big difference in the lives of the parents and the children. Mothers sometimes obtain jobs making minimum wage
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