In the past, fathers have had more difficulty obtaining custody of the children following a divorce. This was attributed to the idea that children should be with the mother; custody decisions historically have reflected that belief. But recently there has been a shift in fathers’ rights.
Most states are seeing a growing trend of fathers being awarded primary custody of their children. So what is causing this growing number of single fathers?
Experts say one of the reasons for the spike in single fatherhood is due to the fact that society now views it as more acceptable. It could be that men, women, and the courts have changed their views of parenting possibilities. Campaigns for fathers’ rights, more job opportunities for women and more understanding family law judges could all be factors into the acceptance of single fatherhood.
In addition, society now perceives men as being equally capable of raising children. Men, who may have never considered the option in the past, are actively taking a greater role in their kids’ lives. Courts, too, are slowly changing and are more legally accepting of joint custody with dads being the primary caregiver. This is also in tune with the belief that maintaining relationships with both parents, barring any criminal implications is in the best interests of the children.
One father fought for primary custody of his son after him and his now ex-wife separated. He knew that he wanted to remain involved, actively taking part in his little boy’s life. After a long battle with his ex-wife, he was awarded custody and is able to take care of his son on a day-to-day basis.
Source: The Baltimore Sun online, “Rise in single fathers defies historic trend,” Yeganeh June Torbati, 30 May 2011
