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FATHERS - UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Professor Cabrera leads the planning committee for the upcoming
National  Fatherhood Forum at Maryland (Inn and Conference Center) June 16 and 17. She
says that it is going to focus on what's been learned about
fathers in the past six years - and to highlight key themes
for future research. Cabrera says one thing that research has
already shown is that parenting has fundamentally changed
over the latter part of the last century due to social,
economic, technological and cultural factors.
One of the biggest changes has been the role of the father
in a family; a role, says Cabrera, that is similar to mom's
but also different. "Fathers interact differently with their
children, and that involvement has unique short and long-
term effects on how children learn and develop," she
says. "We have also started to recognize the various types
of fathers - single, married, cohabiting, biological, step
dad, adaptive dad - and the various investments that these
men can make in their children."
 What about low-income and minority fathers? Despite the
stereotype, it turns out they care just as much about their
children as everyone else. "We have unprecedented data,
especially on minority low income fathers, that challenges
the one-size-fits-all idea of fatherhood. Many low-income
fathers struggle and work hard for their children, despite
insurmountable barriers," the Maryland fatherhood expert
says.
There's also a growing demand for equality when a parenting
dispute goes to court. "Fathers are becoming outspoken as
parents and are demanding equal treatment to mothers," says
Prof. Cabrera. "Courts are now more willing to consider
awarding sole custody to single fathers. We may not live in
a "fatherless" America as was believed in the 1990s."
Learn More About:
The National Fatherhood Forum
The Center for Family Involvement
Fatherhood Research at Maryland
Maryland's
Experts on Fathers and Fatherhood
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Information provided by the Office of University Communications
