The Real Cause of Absentee Fathers

Regarding "Policies to get fathers involved will help children" (Friday Outlook A23), Robert Crosnoe says that "state of fatherhood in this country is abysmal", and provides the usual laundry list of public programs to help "absentee dads", including paid family leave and "parenting education programs."

Mr. Crosnoe creates the impression that dads are "absentee" regardless of marital status.  This simply is not true.  If the parents are married, fathers are just as engaged as mothers.  It is only when parents are not married that there is a high risk of absentee dads.

The simple fact of not being married happens because a) the parents never did marry, or b) got divorced.  Either way, our laws as currently written virtually ensure a high percentage of absentee dads because the mother will be granted full custody, automatically making the father a second class citizen in the raising of their children. 

If Mr. Crosnoe wants effective public policy regarding parenting, two things need to happen:

1) We need to take away the financial incentives for women to have children outside of marriage.

2) We need to grant fathers exactly the same custody rights as mothers.

These policies are fair, gender neutral, and ultimately benefit the people who really matter, our children.  They also don't require a dime of taxpayer funds to be thrown at yet more public programs.

Pete Smith

Cypress, TX