The Influence Of Fatherlessness On Children

In considering the impact of a father’s absence on African American male children, it is worth investigating the historical influences that have lead to this epidemic. History has revealed that the prevalence of young African American men leaving their partners and their children is a trend that triggers unacceptable behavior, low self-esteem, menial academic achievement, a bleak outlook on life, and higher chances of passing the absent-father cycle (Fields, 201). Studies show that 80% of all African American children spend most of their childhood lives without an active father largely due to non-marital childbearing (Usdansky, 2008). With these statistics in mind, mental, emotional and financial stability are difficult to maintain due to the stresses of not having a father (Greif, Jones, Worthy, White, Davis & Pitchford, 2011). The catalyst to triggering absent fathers in the African American culture began as early as the slavery era. Men in slavery were taken away from the home and family households were managed by African American mothers; however, the African American family strongly believed in the institution of marriage (Debell, 2008). As time
Stories about the effects of absent fathers are frequent and findings have shown major and overwhelming effects on children (Sieber, 2008). The number of African American female-headed households has continually increased over the past ten years, despite fatherhood being characterized as one of the most valuable components of a male’s life (Fleck, Hudson, Abbott & Reisbig, 2013). Statistics from 2011 show that fatherlessness affects children in the following ways: 90% of homeless children are fatherless; 85% of fatherless children have behavior disorders; 30% are at a higher risk for teen pregnancy; 40% repeat a grade in school; 71% drop out of school; 75% are drug users; and 85% are in correctional facilities (Osborne & McLanahan,