– Research has shown that fathers, in some aspects, have more impact than mothers on their children’s development. Rejection by their father, for example, is more likely to cause psychological and behavioral problems to children than rejection by their mother. Being sure of their dad’s love seems to be more important for a young adult’s happiness and well-being than knowing mom loves them. Such results should be reason enough to give fatherhood a better chance.

– Helping more fathers to take parental leave can be part of the solution, but profound changes in attitudes and policies would be needed first. Even if women’s progress towards equality in the professional world has been very slow, it seems that society is much more reticent in accepting men as equals in matters of parenting. A recent Monash University survey has revealed that, while more than eight of 10 fathers would be ready to take paid parental leave in order to be the primary carer of their babies for at least three months, only a meager 2 percent have done so. There is a long way to go.

Image: Father and Son in North Fork Mountain / Wikimedia Commons

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