THE ROLE OF A FATHER IN THE FAMILY
INTRODUCTION
For the mental and physical well-being of their children, fathers play a crucial role in the family unit. Growing up with improved mental health and healthier relationships is more likely when a youngster has a positive relationship with a father figure.
The Father's Place in the Family.
Father figures can play a variety of roles in a household. It's important to remember that the term "father" doesn't just refer to biological fatherhood; it may also refer to a relationship between a man and his wife. Families without a wife and husband, as well as those headed by a single father or a transgender man, can have just as strong a bond as those headed by a husband and wife. Father-child relationships can be healthy in any kind of household, regardless of the sort of parent the child has. He's like a father to me:
Caregiver may not be related in any way to the child or children they are looking after
You may have a step-parent in your life
May have taken up a child or children as a foster parent
The quality of the parent-child relationship is more essential than the structure of the family.
As a result, I believe a father is someone who assumes or accepts the responsibility of fatherhood and acts as a father toward another individual at any point in time. A father in the family is expected to fulfill a considerable number of roles and responsibilities. This article will enlighten you on the specific roles fathers are meant to observe in the family.
In virtually every culture that has been researched, fathers have traditionally been expected to fulfill the following three primary roles:
- Protector
- Provider
- Disciplinarian.
Before we get into a discussion of each of these jobs,
THE THREE MAJOR ROLES OF FATHERHOOD
PROTECTOR
When a mother is expecting, one of the tactics that we have employed is to encourage the expecting father to baby-proof or child-proof their home. What are some things that they can do to get the house ready for the arrival of the child? One of the ways in which fathers can safeguard their children from potential threats lurking within the home is by making the house conducive to protect the health of their kids. They are also able to shield their children from any potential threats that may come from the outside. This is of utmost importance in neighborhoods that have higher rates of violence, as there is a greater possibility that the child will be exposed to gang activity or criminal activity in these kinds of neighborhoods.
One further way that fathers can protect their children is by monitoring their children's social surroundings and being familiar with their children's contemporaries and pals. Also, when our children visit the home of another family, are we aware of the conditions that exist there? Do they own firearms that are kept in the house? Is the area where it's located secure? What steps do I need to take to ensure that my child is safeguarded from environments that can pose a risk to them? The setting in which their children are raised is another way in which fathers ensure their children's safety. In other words, they can evaluate the environment the child is in (such as the home, the neighborhood, or the community) and seek for ways to make it safer for the child to engage in certain activities, as well as remove potential dangers from the child's path.
PROVIDER
The capacity of a father to care for his family is directly tied to his sense of duty, his sense of identity and his manhood. This is because the job of the father is that of the provider. There are many distinct messages that are passed down from culture to culture regarding what it means to be a male, a spouse, and a parent. In many of these societies, one of the most important responsibilities of a father is to provide for his family. That "true men bring home the bacon," that they provide for their families, that they labor hard in the fields, factories, mines, and woods; that they are the ones who "bring home the bacon." Even if the work can put them in harm's way, they have to do it because they are the sole support for their families. As I indicated earlier, in many families with two parents living together nowadays, the father is not the primary provider; yet, providing for their family is still a vital role that fathers play in their homes.
DISCIPLINARIAN
Many fathers have great expectations for their children as they work to prepare them for the future. They want their child to do well in life, to have an optimistic view of the future, and to have aspirations that are lofty. As a result, it is the responsibility of fathers to be present for their children so that they may instruct them on how to control their impulses, how to maintain their composure in times of high stress, and how to respond to circumstances in a way that does not put themselves or others in danger. In the culture that predominates in the United States, many fathers take on the position of the disciplinarian; nevertheless, it is imperative that they do so in a way that is both safe and courteous. It is impossible for it to be done in a violent manner because young men who are raised in households where there is violence have a tendency to carry on that tradition in their own families. It is essential for the father to play the role of a disciplinarian because he can utilize his physical presence to teach his child how to react appropriately and also appropriately to different situations.
Anyone is capable of having a child, but it takes a lifetime to mature into the role of a father. Every child benefits from having a father in their life in a way that cannot be replicated by anyone else. This position has the potential to have a significant influence on a child and play an important part in the development of the adult that child will become.
Beyond being family
The Role of Fathers in Their Children's Emotional Growth
The emotional health of a child is greatly influenced by both the mother and the father. Mothers and fathers play equally important roles. Children look to their fathers to establish and uphold the household's norms and guidelines. In addition, they look to their fathers to provide them with a sense of safety, not only physically but also emotionally. Children want to do their fathers proud, and having a father who is involved in their lives encourages personal development and bolsters their confidence. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a father's level of warmth and involvement in his child's life has a significant impact on the latter's intellectual and social growth. In addition to this, it fosters a general feeling of well-being as well as self-confidence.
Relationships with other people are measured against the standards set by fathers.
Not only do fathers shape the people we are on the inside, but they also shape the ways in which we interact with others as we mature. The values that a child develops as a result of the way their father treats them will carry over into their relationships with other people. Relationships with friends, lovers, and potential spouses will all be selected on the basis of how the child interpreted the meaning of the connection with his or her father. The patterns of interaction that a father models for his children in their relationships with him will serve as a template for how his children interact with others.
Men and Their Daughters as Fathers
Young women and girls rely on the stability and emotional support that their fathers provide. A father models for his daughter what a healthy and loving partnership with a man should look like. When she is old enough to start dating, a father's daughter will look for the same loving and gentle qualities in the men she dates if her father models those characteristics for her. If a woman grows up with a powerful and brave father, she will gravitate toward other men with similar qualities.
The Bond between Fathers and Their Sons
Boys, on the other hand, tend to model themselves after their father's character rather than their relationships with other people, which girls tend to model based on their father's character. At a very young age, boys will seek their fathers' approval for everything they do. As human beings, we learn how to behave appropriately in the world by observing others and modeling our actions after the actions of those we see around us. If a father is kind to others and shows respect for them, his son will likely develop in a manner that is similar to his father's. Young boys who do not have a father figure in their lives often look to other male figures to provide guidance on how to conduct themselves and how to make it in the world.
There is no denying the significant contribution that fathers make to their families. Being a father is more than just a title; it's also a responsibility. Generally speaking, a man is considered to be a father if he is of the male gender and is the biological parent of another individual (s). In a more general sense, a man can be a father to a person or people regardless of whether or not they are his biological children. As a result, a man can be a father to his wife, to certain members of his family, or to any other person he chooses (s).
THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE FATHER'S INABILITY TO CARRY OUT HIS DUTIES
A child who does not have access to the essentials of life is more likely to engage in risky or illegal behavior in order to acquire those essentials, which contributes to the proliferation of social ills. In most cases, they would resort to engaging in illegal behavior in order to obtain what it is that they desire. This will also occur when they are not properly trained and disciplined in the appropriate manner.
Failure on the part of a father to fulfill his responsibilities can have a negative impact on the emotional and psychological development of his child. The child has trouble staying focused and being precise. It's possible that he'll end up making poor choices and a string of other errors in his life. A child who did not have the privilege of receiving protection from his father is more likely to be irresponsible with regard to the well-being of his own children, and the cycle continues. If a father does not fulfill his responsibilities, he may be responsible for the careless or negligent actions that lead to the death of a family member.
If a father is not there to pave the way for his children, then those children may have to put in twice as much effort in order to find their way up the ladder.
CONCLUSION
It is possible to delegate roles, powers, and duties; however, responsibility cannot be delegated. It is possible to delegate certain roles that nature and society have bestowed upon fathers, but this does not mean that the responsibility associated with those roles can be. Therefore, even when it is being performed by another, it is still viewed as though that other person is performing it for the father even though it is being performed by the other person. Failure on the part of the father to fulfill his responsibilities in the family is one factor that contributes to the ills that plague society, despite the fact that society is changing and that different perceptions are becoming more prevalent.