Fathers play an important role in our families, they protect us, they guide us, they make us tough while our mom makes us loving and kind. Both mother and father create a perfect balance in our lives. It’s necessary for both parents to be available at all times for their children so that they can have a proper future and stability in their lives.
However, things are taking a huge turn for the children in the United States, as many fathers are abandoning their children. The fatherless households in the US are increasing day by day.
The United States has the highest rate of children living in single parent households as compared to other nations in the world. About 80 percent of single parent households are led by single mothers, who face lots of problems in taking care of their children.
About 23 percent of children in the United States are living with one parent and no other adults the United States stand over three times the world average of 7 percent of children raised by one parent. The number stands at 3 percent for China and 4 percent for India.
China is at 3%, India is at 4%, the world is at 7%, while the US is at 23% in terms of fatherless households. The fatherless crisis in the United States is rising at an alarming rate and this affects the children in the worst way possible.
90% of all homeless and runaway children’s cases, along with 63% of teen suicides are being caused by this fatherless crisis. 85% of children and teens with behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes.
Fatherless crisis in the United States has given rise to the teen pregnancy and sexual activities. About 70% of teenage pregnancies come from the women raised in the fatherless households. However, now most of these teens can’t even take an abortion because of the abolition of Roe v. Wade.
On June 24th, 2022, the Supreme court of the United States overturned the constitutional right granted to women in a historic 1973 ruling called Roe v. Wade. Thus, making abortion illegal in many states of the United States. With fatherless crisis getting worse, the overturning of Roe v. Wade made things worse for the pregnant teens from the fatherless households.
Fatherless crisis is also giving rise to the violent behavior to the kids raised in the fatherless households. Fatherless kids are 20 times more likely to exhibit violent behavior than children from two parent households.
The main reason fathers are abandoning their children is because of the divorce, unaffordable child support or they feel unworthy of being a father.
According to David Brooks, the author of the article “Why Fathers Leave Their Children”, fathers don’t simply abandon their families out of laziness or lack of love; they leave because they feel unworthy. Fathers tend to go into parenthood with unrealistic standards, which ultimately sets them up for failure.
The US government is taking various steps to counter fatherhood crisis in America.
On April 2022, Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis signed the bill HB 7065, which includes educational programs, mentorship programs and one-on-one support to encourage responsible and involved fatherhood in Florida. The bill is tied to nearly $70 million in funding to provide a wide spectrum of family and youth support through the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
“There are more than 18 million children in our country who live without a father in their home,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This has a severe impact on children, and often leads to dropping out of school, crime and substance abuse. Incredibly, there are those who diminish the importance of fatherhood and the nuclear family – we will not let that happen in our state. I am proud to say we are doing everything we can to support involved fatherhood in Florida.”
