Fathers Rights
Father’s Rights
Anthony McCauley
COMM/215
November 10, 2010
Darcy Vernier
Father’s Rights
Divorced men or men from a failed domestic relationship that produced children are not properly represented by the courts or the court of public opinion. These fathers are prone to labeling as deadbeat dads or uncaring fathers by virtue of separation from their children. The majority of the separation from their children is no fault of their own, but because of geography and financial limitations. In the majority of child custody hearings, the mother is always favored. This is regardless of her parenting ability or her financial ability to support the children. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), nearly 75% of all child custody awards are made to the mother. Only about 10% of child custody awards are made to fathers. The rest of the child custody awards involve some sort of joint custody arrangement. Recent Census Bureau child custody statistics also indicate that nearly 40% of all noncustodial fathers have no access to or visitation rights with their children (Child Custody Coach, 2008). This is not the law but once again the judges ruling on the side of what has become social commonplace. Many fathers would love to have custody of their children. This parental right appears to have been taken away from them except in extreme and clearly defined examples of an unfit mother. In cases when both parents can care for the children properly, the mother will generally receive custody. The current child support system is also biased. Each state has rules and guidelines it goes by, but they all calculate income as a factor. That by itself is fair. Where it gets tricky is if a custodial mother chooses not to work it becomes the noncustodial father to support her and his children. This is because the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents not divorced or separated still has to be
Anthony McCauley
COMM/215
November 10, 2010
Darcy Vernier
Father’s Rights
Divorced men or men from a failed domestic relationship that produced children are not properly represented by the courts or the court of public opinion. These fathers are prone to labeling as deadbeat dads or uncaring fathers by virtue of separation from their children. The majority of the separation from their children is no fault of their own, but because of geography and financial limitations. In the majority of child custody hearings, the mother is always favored. This is regardless of her parenting ability or her financial ability to support the children. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), nearly 75% of all child custody awards are made to the mother. Only about 10% of child custody awards are made to fathers. The rest of the child custody awards involve some sort of joint custody arrangement. Recent Census Bureau child custody statistics also indicate that nearly 40% of all noncustodial fathers have no access to or visitation rights with their children (Child Custody Coach, 2008). This is not the law but once again the judges ruling on the side of what has become social commonplace. Many fathers would love to have custody of their children. This parental right appears to have been taken away from them except in extreme and clearly defined examples of an unfit mother. In cases when both parents can care for the children properly, the mother will generally receive custody. The current child support system is also biased. Each state has rules and guidelines it goes by, but they all calculate income as a factor. That by itself is fair. Where it gets tricky is if a custodial mother chooses not to work it becomes the noncustodial father to support her and his children. This is because the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents not divorced or separated still has to be
References: Child Custody Coach. (2008). Child Custody Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.childcustodycoach.com/child-custody-statistics.php