Internal Assessment
The Social Effects of Absentee Fathers on Boys in Inner-city Communities
“Fatherlessness is an albatross around the neck of this nation, weighing us down and choking development”, is a statement Martin Henry, a national journalist, salutes in his article on May 26, 2013 in the Jamaica Gleaner. Inner city communities are plagued with single-parent families and oftentimes it is the father which is absent. Mothers can do much and no more and boys who come from these broken homes oftentimes become a product of their society and a pattern develops. The issue of absentee fathers has become a social problem in the development of the family (the first institution of socialization), the community, specifically the inner-cities, and the society in general.
Whether we believe it or not, fathers bring something unique to the family and for this reason, an irreplaceable connection and contribution is made to the life of a child. These contributions can never be replaced by any program of any kind. The absence of a father can cause a child to suffer emotionally and socially. Psychology has taught that issues such as this are correlational: a relationship may exist. According to Jennifer Flood’s article,” A review of literature relevant to delinquency and adolescent behavioural and academic success revealed that there may be correlation between a male role model and the teaching of self-control and socially appropriate behaviours”. Kruk, a renowned psychologist sums this up in just one sentence,” Fatherlessness is a driver for delinquency and crime”.
In situations where there is no male figure to look up to or aspire to be like, boys turn to media personalities like rappers, artistes and sport personas, ones who have similar background and upbringing as they do. However, these figures are not necessarily positive role models as they display signs of arrogance and resentment towards authority. Furthermore, they do not see this as socially unacceptable because they aspire
“Fatherlessness is an albatross around the neck of this nation, weighing us down and choking development”, is a statement Martin Henry, a national journalist, salutes in his article on May 26, 2013 in the Jamaica Gleaner. Inner city communities are plagued with single-parent families and oftentimes it is the father which is absent. Mothers can do much and no more and boys who come from these broken homes oftentimes become a product of their society and a pattern develops. The issue of absentee fathers has become a social problem in the development of the family (the first institution of socialization), the community, specifically the inner-cities, and the society in general.
Whether we believe it or not, fathers bring something unique to the family and for this reason, an irreplaceable connection and contribution is made to the life of a child. These contributions can never be replaced by any program of any kind. The absence of a father can cause a child to suffer emotionally and socially. Psychology has taught that issues such as this are correlational: a relationship may exist. According to Jennifer Flood’s article,” A review of literature relevant to delinquency and adolescent behavioural and academic success revealed that there may be correlation between a male role model and the teaching of self-control and socially appropriate behaviours”. Kruk, a renowned psychologist sums this up in just one sentence,” Fatherlessness is a driver for delinquency and crime”.
In situations where there is no male figure to look up to or aspire to be like, boys turn to media personalities like rappers, artistes and sport personas, ones who have similar background and upbringing as they do. However, these figures are not necessarily positive role models as they display signs of arrogance and resentment towards authority. Furthermore, they do not see this as socially unacceptable because they aspire