Millennial dads need information, education and a place to gather with other new and returning fathers so that they can effectively raise their children to be productive, well-adjusted members of society.
The raising of a child by just a single mother has become normalized in today’s environment. How alarming is this trend? U.S. Census Bureau data shows that in 2017 that one out of every four children live in a home without a father.
And things don’t appear to be getting any better.
A recent Pew Research Center study demonstrated that slightly more than 50% of babies born to millennials are to unwed mothers. The study also concluded that, “Millennials are less likely than adults ages 30 and older to say that a child needs a home with both a father and mother to grow up happily and that single parenthood and unmarried couple parenthood are bad for society.”
Of course, you don’t have to be married to be a good father, but married fathers are far more likely to be involved with their children then their unwed counterparts. The trends show that millennials need guidance and education when it comes to the importance of a father being involved in their children’s lives. According to a Pew survey, “52% of Millennials say being a good parent is “one of the most important things” in life. Just 30% say the same about having a successful marriage– meaning there is a 22 percentage point gap in the way Millennials value parenthood over marriage.”
The social drivers of these trends are numerous: one-night stands, courts giving sole custody to moms, mothers simply choosing to raise the child on their own, generational shifts, etc. While this situation is advantageous to a child with no parents, it is not ideal, according to research.
All Star Dads is here to help.
– Mark Padgett
photo credit: Tambako The Jaguar/Flickr
