Father Figures: Big Brothers and Big Sisters

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Recommended: EFFECTS OF ABSENT FATHER IN MALE CHILDREN

When someone thinks about the definition of a father, he or she thinks about the support, care, love, and knowledge a father gives to his offspring. Most people automatically believe that biological fathers, along with the mothers, raise their children. However, that is not always the case. There are many children across the world who are raised without their father. These children lack a father figure. People do not realize how detrimental the lack of a father figure can be to the child, both mentally and emotionally. Enrolling boys between the ages of 5 to 16 without father figures in programs, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, that involve building a relationship with someone who can serve as a role model is essential to prevent males from depression, difficulty in expressing emotions, and other consequences of having an absent father figure.
A father is someone who protects, loves, supports and raises his children, whether they are biologically related or not. Every single person living on the Earth has a biological father. These biological fathers are supposed to take the responsibility of being a father because they did help bring a child into this world. One of the main responsibilities of a father is providing the child with the necessities of life, which include food, shelter, and clothes. Not only is a father responsible for the physical aspect but the emotional aspect as well. Children need to feel loved, cared for, and emotional support from their parents. A child needs to be reassured, so a father must show his affection, both physically and emotionally. A father needs to be involved in his children’s life. He needs to be a problem solver, playmate, provider, preparer, and he has to have principles. A father has to pr...

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...n Later Life." Sociological Quarterly 32.4 (1991): 543-556. Print.
Corlew, Willie. "The Absence of a Father Or Father Figure and its Impact on the Academic Success of High School Males." Tennessee State University, 2009. PDF file.
Greenspun, Daniel. "Father Absence, the Mythical Father, and their Influence on Affect Maturity." City University of New York, 2011. PDF file.
King, Valarie. "The Antecedents and Consequences of Adolescents' Relationships with Stepfathers and Nonresident Fathers." Journal of Marriage and Family 68.4 (2006): 910-928. Print.
Nwele, Chrysogonus Onye. "Fatherhood and a Child's Education: Exploring the Effects of a Father's Absence on the Social, Moral, and Religious Lives of Children." Fordham University, 2009. PDF file.
Tierney, Joseph P.. “Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brother Big Sisters.” Public/Private Ventures, 2000. Print.

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