IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Patrick Riley Sr. gave his son Patrick Jr. a boost when he tried to do Rock climbing at the First Annual Dads of Distinction Father's Day Funfest at the Palisados Go-Cart Race Track on Father's Day, Sunday June 19, 2005.
Petrina Francis, Gleaner Writer
It is no secret that fathers are a rare commodity in Jamaica's households. But why is this? Are the labels correct after all? Are all Jamaican fathers just worthless and refuse to 'man up' to their responsibilities? Don't believe the hype. The Sunday Gleaner has zeroed in on some Jamaican fathers who wear their paternal badges with pride and dignity. Indeed, it seems the men are slowly coming back home.
Frequently described as 'wutliss' or 'deadbeat' by many
single mothers who are often forced to take on the dual role
of mother and father, more Jamaican fathers are 'rising to the occasion' and are playing a more active role in their children's lives.
This is according to Dave Williams, programme coordinator for Fathers' Incorporated.
Mr. Williams told The Sunday Gleaner that the increased role is evident in the number of fathers who are taking their children to school, shopping and participating in other recreational activities.
In addition, he argued that there are more fathers who are seeking to get their children's names on their birth certificates.
Faith Webster, director of policy and research at the Bureau of Women's Affairs concurred: "I think more and more men are stepping in and taking up the responsibility,"
financial constraints
Mr. Williams pointed out that some fathers shy away from being involved in their children's lives because of financial constraints. He noted that there is the need for public education to inform fathers that not having enough money to give to their children should not prevent them from being there for their offspring.
Notwithstanding this, he said, there are still some 'deadbeat dads' who were forced into fatherhood to prove their masculinity.
Sociologist Dr. Orville Taylor said the issue of absentee fathers is not a new phenomenon, noting that it is deeply rooted in the society's history.
He explained that families were not encouraged on the plantation during slavery and men were not allowed to be heads of households. The owners of the plantation, he said, could have sexual access to any female of their choice.
"It therefore means that not only did they not have exclusive sexual rights but they were not sure of paternity," he said.
Dr. Taylor noted that as a result of the plantation experience,
certain types of mating and family patterns developed and became crystallised.
"After several hundreds years of slavery and plantation life, we've had a 160-something years of freedom. That is still not enough to eradicate the legacy of historical patterns which have been built up over centuries," he stressed.
According to data from the 2002 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions the percentage of female-headed households in Jamaica stands at 45 per cent of the total population, with the
figure highest in the Kingston Metropolitan Area.
The sociologist said there have not been any significant differences in the percentage of female-headed households over the years, and it would mean that there are other factors, which contribute to absentee fathers in the contemporary era.
He suggested that the level of urbanisation could be a factor as it weakens family ties and as a result the collective result that communities have in the upbringing of children might be weakened.
Dwight Moore, president of Dads of Distinction, a recently- formed organisation which recognises fathers, said many people have pointed out to him that more fathers are playing an active role in their children's lives. He said the increased role that mothers are playing in the labour force, encourages fathers to get more involved in their children's lives.
"There is also the 'wutliss' father who grew up without a father who lives a life of crime," he said.
Pointing to the fact that only 30 per cent of the graduates of the University of the West Indies are males, Mr. Moore noted that this could contribute to a life of crime because men will not have the requisite skills that are needed to enter the labour force.
Dr. Taylor agrees with Mr. Moore that the absence of a male figure in the home could lead to delinquency. He argued that juvenile delinquency is the result of factors in a child's socialisation.
"If there is an absent male model for the child to emulate, the child will not learn the appropriate behaviour that only a father or father figure can teach them."
Speaking at a Gleaner Editor's Forum recently, Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan, executive chairman of the Early Childhood Commission, said her organisation is having discussions
with the Ministry of Health
about developing parenting
programmes that are going to
be established through health
centres.
"One of the important groups left out of the parenting programme is the fathers. They are being left out because they don't come to PTA meetings as much as the mothers do; they don't come to childcare activities as much as the mothers do ... If we want to reach fathers, we are going to have to reach fathers where they are," said Dr. Samms-Vaughan.
