Rebuttal to N.Y. Times Op-ed piece "Men, Who Needs Them?"

                                                              Men, We All Need Them!

      In a recent (Aug. 24, 2012) N.Y. Times Op-ed article titled "Men, Who Needs Them?", author Greg Hampikian states that men are becoming less relevant to both reproduction and parenting. In terms of men and their role in reproduction, there does seem to be a proliferation of assisted reproductive technologies, which relegate men to the "sperm donor" category. In other words, men are viewed as assistants in creating new life, but not of vital importance in being part of the child's' life as he/she matures. 

       The stance this male author took in his op-ed piece prompted me to do a little fact checking of my own regarding what the research is showing on the role of a father in a child's life. I didn't have to look too hard before I came across several research-based articles on the role that fathers play in the family, and in the development of children. According to authors E.M. Cummings and A. O'Reilly, "one of the most important ways a father influences the family is in his interaction with his children's mother. That is because the relationships which children observe and experience at an early age influence their own relationships later in life" (The Role of the Father in Child Development, pp. 49-65).

       According to author M. Shinn, "statistics about children who do not live with their fathers can be grim.On almost every outcome that has been tested, including educational achievement, self-esteem, responsible social behavior, and adjustments as adults, children do better when they live with both of their parents" (Psychological Bulletin,85, 1978, pp. 295-324).

      Studies seem to consistently reveal that fathers matter in the lives of their children. Rich Batten of Colorado State University states that "well-fathered children are shown to be more emotionally intelligent and socially successful as adults. Maureen Black, PhD, a researcher and professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine states that " fathers who are involved with their children have children with fewer problems. That added involvement from a father helps children tremendously." Specifically, her research found better language skills and fewer behavioral problems in children with an actively involved father. This result holds true even if the father doesn't live in the same home as the child. Researchers at the University of Oxford reached the same conclusion about the link between paternal involvement and academic success in their study of 17,000 British school children.

     In the op-ed piece, Hampikian dwells on the female biological role in nurturing a newly conceived life, along with the need for maternal nurturing influences on a child. He dismisses the male contribution to the creation of a new human being, but he doesn't fully dismiss a fathers role completely, stating that his own father was the more influential parent in his life. However, fathers, according to Hampikian, are not "necessary and sufficient" for reproduction. He ends the article with a chilling statement- "with human cloning technology just around the corner, and enough frozen sperm in the world to already populate many generations, does "mankind" really need men? My answer to his question is an emphatic YES! Mankind needs men and their important role, both in society, and most importantly within the family. Without fathers, families suffer...economically and intellectually and emotionally. Fathers have a vital and irreplaceable role to play in the family with their relationship with their wives, and in the day-to-day development of children who are emotionally stable and well-adjusted, and academically successful.

~Kathy~