Tyler and the narrator were sitting in the tavern having a beer and talking about the condo blowing up; when Tyler asks the narrator if he has family he can call. The Narrator replied, “I don 't know my dad. I mean, I know him, but... he left when I was like six years old….” Is the absenteeism of a father responsible for the lack of confidence and abnormal behavior in children?
According to Joanna Sugden (Sugden) in the last 10 years single parent homes have risen from 2.9 million to 3.1 million. Studies have shown an increase in drug addiction, criminal activity, self-mutilation, and unrestrained anger stem from the lack of a father in the household. They look to peers to fill the gap, which often leads to gang involvement, …show more content…
Fathers were role models for their sons, a model for their daughter’s future husbands. The mother was the nurturing one who took care of the children when they were sick and did the household chores. The parents provided stability to the children. But as we moved into the 60’s life begin to change it started a family in decline. The family started changing divorce rates went up leaving a single parent family. Sometimes the father disappeared completely from the picture and often he remarried and began a new family, leaving his children without a father. In a family where the father is absent the mother gives an excessive imprint to the children. She then becomes both mother and father, answering questions, helping them out of trouble. (Biller) Many times because she works and is responsible for cleaning, cooking and shopping there is little time for nurturing. Therefore, the child only sees one side of the parenting role. (Sauer) There is no longer a representation of both parents for the child. They only see one side of the parenting role. Our children are in crisis. No longer are there two people to make decision on the child’s welfare and often the mother is left with no help. Her ability to be mother and father is exhausted. This leaves the child looking for answers somewhere