Internal Assessment Argumentative Essay

The Social Effects of Absentee Fathers on Boys in Inner-city Communities “Fatherliness Is an albatross around the neck of this nation, welling us down and choking development”, is a statement Martin Henry, a national journalist, salutes in his article on May 26, 2013 in the Jamaica Gleaner. Inner city communities are plagued with single-parent families and oftentimes it is the father which is absent. Mothers can do much and no more and boys who come from these broken homes oftentimes become a product of their society and a pattern develops.

The issue of absentee fathers has become a social problem In the development of the family (the first Institution of colonization). The community, specifically the Inner-clues, and the society in general. Whether we believe it or not, fathers bring something unique to the family and for this reason, an irreplaceable connection and contribution is made to the life of a child. These contributions can never be replaced by any program of any kind. The absence off father can cause a child to suffer emotionally and socially.

Psychology has taught that issues such as this are correlation: a allegations may exist. According to Jennifer Flood’s article,” A review of literature relevant to delinquency and adolescent behavioral and academic success revealed that there may be correlation between a male role model and the teaching of self- control and socially appropriate behaviors”. Koru, a renowned psychologist sums this up in just one sentence,” Fatherliness is a driver for delinquency and crime”.

In situations where there is no male figure to look up to or aspire to be like, boys turn to media personalities Like rappers, artistes and sport personae, ones who have animal background and upbringing as they do. However, these figures are not necessarily positive role models as they display signs of arrogance and resentment towards authority. Furthermore, they do not see this as socially unacceptable because they aspire to be like them and so whatever that person does is seen as ‘right’ in their eyes. They acclimatize to that kind of behavior and carry them out in their daily activities. Aid a mi daddy” and “Mi a Spartan Devil” are common phrases used by the fatherless boys In the community of Granville, SST. James. This affects how hey relate to one another, elders and society on a whole. A statistical analysis shows that fatherless children who normally possess this kind of mindset are 20 times more likely to end up in prison; 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders; 14 times more likely to commit rape; 9 times more likely to drop out of high school; 10 times more likely to abuse drugs and the list goes on.

What glorious future for our boys! This natural disaster sweeping away our country continues as boys with absentee fathers suffer from lack of affection and support because there Is no male Geiger to love and support them, specifically when It comes on to those physical activities such as: sports and manual labor. They pretend as though this doesn’t affect them as it demeans their manhood to show their true feelings.

They use different mediums to bring out the anger they feel inside which may, unfortunately, resort to a life of crime and violence. Mothers of these children have to now face the reality that they have now become a menace to society. This lack of affection can also no idea of how to express and show love and so find it difficult to commit to a allegations. They have children outside marriage or any stable relationship, hence, continuing the tradition and the cycle of being an absentee father.

Edward Koru, writing about father absence, father deficit and father hunger in Psychology Today underlines the behavioral problems,” Fatherless children have more difficulties with social adjustments, and are more likely to report problems with friendships, and manifest behavior problems; many develop a swaggering, intimidating persona in an attempt to disguise their underlying fears, resentments, anxieties and unhappiness. Gangs and violence and the adoration of the gun as power spring out of this condition. The litany of disaster now becomes a norm which affects us all as citizens of this country. The absence of a father in the family places a heavy weight on the mother of this child. His basic needs may not be met because a mother in those type of communities normally don’t possess a high income Job which earns enough money to supply the needs of the child and so the child grows up into a teenager with the mindset meek a living and will do anything to be successful at this. This springs over to boys being more likely to experience unemployment, having low salary Jobs and even experience homelessness.

I strongly believe that we are confronted with a major social disaster. The decline of fatherhood is a major force behind many of our biggest problems: low educational performance, crime, violence, poor social relations and weak economic performance. Clearly, the only way to fix this problem is to solve this issue of fatherliness in our homes.