FATHER’S DAY TIP SHEET

Fathers are definitely “in” in the late 20th century but their status in America has been inconsistent over the centuries. In the colonial period, fathers were responsible for the education and moral development of their children but after the American Revolution, patriarchal authority was viewed as a threat to the emerging republican social order. Some social thinkers of that age went so far as to say that “unyielding patriarchs imperiled the health and happiness of their wives and children,” says Maris Vinovskis, professor of history at the University of Michigan.

Rhetoric aside, however, “fathers never really went out of style,” adds Stephen Frank, a recent U-M doctoral graduate in history and collections curator, National Museum of American Jewish History. “For instance, in the 19th century and the Victorian era, the capacity to love and show kindness and affection to family members was a very important trait related to manhood.” Thus 19th century fathers lavished attention and affection on their children.

“Fathers today are beginning to rediscover the joys of fatherhood and its emotional connections—something that 19th century fathers knew so well.”

Contact Vinovskis at (313) 763-2289. Contact Frank at (215) 923-5975. African American fathers who spend time and energy on their sons, even though they may not live together, are key factors in their sons’ healthy development, according to a U-M study from the School of Public Health. “In our study, we discovered that many African American fathers who did not live with their sons were still very much present in their sons’ lives,” adds Marc A. Zimmerman, associate professor of public health. “Our findings cast doubt on the myth that dual-parent households are necessary for the healthy development of African American males. What matters is parental involvement in their sons’ lives.”

Contact Zimmerman at (313) 647-0224. Elderly fathers tend to get less help, social support and health care from their adult children than elderly mothers, mostly because they give less care to their children than do mothers, says Berit Ingersoll-Dayton, U-M associate professor of social work.

“Because women tend to do more care-giving than men, their children may feel a greater obligation to reciprocate the efforts of their mothers as compared to their fathers,” she adds.

Ingersoll-Dayton adds that older women may receive more help because they tend to have greater health problems than elderly men. They also may be more assertive in letting their children know that they need care.

Contact Ingersoll-Dayton at (313) 763-6577. Dads and discipline. Two-thirds of the 30 fathers studied by U-M psychologist Brenda L. Volling said they doled out discipline equally between older and younger siblings, ages 2 to 6. But one-third of the 30 fathers, and nearly two-thirds of the mothers, reported disciplining their older pre-schooler more.

“When both parents agree to discipline the older, more sophisticated sibling over a more vulnerable toddler, it appears that there is greater harmony in the family system,” says Volling. Still, she adds, it’s possible that older sibs who are disciplined more see this as unfair treatment and may build up resentment as a result. “Parental agreement about discipline may lead to happiness in the marriage,” says Volling, “but it may not necessarily mean the older child is happy, too. The more we learn about family life, the more we realize how complicated it is.”

Contact Volling at (313) 764-7379.

Berit Ingersoll-Daytonsocial workBrenda L. VollingU-M News and Information ServicesUniversity of Michigan