Why is fatherhood treated as an afterthought in society?

AnFGhoster · 2025-11-22T14:54:45+00:00

This is to bring the discussion here, not a call for you to go to the other sub. Please keep the discussions here.

KrvnkKev · 2025-11-22T14:52:29+00:00

Question "why is fatherhood treated as an afterthought" posted to rAskMen

2 of the top 5 rated responses are from people explicitly labeling and identifying themselves as women, one just blaming men and the other outright defending that status quo

Classic.

Local-Willingness784 · 2025-11-22T20:36:07+00:00

first and most upvoted comment is literally about patriarchy and the rest are either women, men telling the guy to not whine and berate him and a few really discussing stuff, is this a reddit thing or is it just like that irl? im saying this because i dont see or know any fathers to discuss this.

Specific_Detective41 · 2025-11-22T14:51:15+00:00

Society doesn't take father's as seriously compared to mother's, could be due to a gamma bias. Especially since a mother carries a child for 9 months. Even then the expectation of having a child is just as emotional for the father.

I see that with single father's vs single mothers. Or if the father does household chores, people see it as an expectation whereas a woman is praised.

egalitarianphantom · 2025-11-22T17:26:38+00:00

It's ironic that people are blaming the patriarchy when it was through feminist efforts that tender years doctrine and similar laws were enacted so that children are kept away from men in case of separation.

The Irony here is palpable.

Even Bell Hooks and many feminists have said that women do enjoy the benefits of patriarchy especially in terms of motherhood. So, it's odd that the blame is placed on the men in the patriarchy and not also on the women and feminists who support the patriarchy and are in active participation of the patriarchy in this aspect.

I'd sure do love if feminists put their money where their mouth is by pushing for equal custody policies, advocating against tender years doctrine, affirmative actions in female dominated fields like teachingetc. Despite all their big claims, all I've seen is their efforts to keep their benefits in place.

It's completely fair for women to be acknowledged for their efforts to conceive and deliver a baby despite the risks to them. But the people there are hung up on the birth giving aspect alone and are dismissive of all other things that OP has mentioned.

Not too surprising for me though. Pretty much saw this coming considering the reputation of askmen subreddit.

diagnosissplendid · 2025-11-23T00:25:46+00:00

Because men are primary seen as providers and are discouraged from being feeling beings because that undermines the providing role. Without men - especially fathers - capitalism falls apart, because nobody works harder than somebody who knows they're the difference between a good life for their kids and a bad one. The employment rate for fathers in the UK is usually between 90 and 95 percent - much higher than single men and women, higher than mothers, higher than anyone. We are the elbow that gets twisted by the economy in most households.

Some historic causes probably include:

War, both in terms of preparation for it and as a consequence of it, caring isn't to be encouraged: caring people are hard to convince of the virtues of killing
Perversely, the end of child labour: in the UK this was the moment when adult women exited the mainstream workforce for a century and the unions started campaigning for the family wage, because there was no system of childcare and suddenly all households were single income

NotJeromeStuart · 2025-11-22T18:31:19+00:00

The father's presence improves some outcomes but not essential.

AnFGhoster · 2025-11-24T14:34:16+00:00

[permanently deleted]

DronedAgain · 2025-11-22T19:19:02+00:00

Because in the recent past, and still, stay-at-home moms are considered the primary parent. Also, the bond between mother and child is inherently stronger through nursing and the care that mothers provide to babies. You can do a lot, but women have the advantage naturally.

Men will probably always relegated to second string in the parenting game.

However, the most important thing is what your kids think and feel when they're older. Raise them well and they will love and respect you, and you will always hold a special place in their heart.

Title	Why is fatherhood treated as an afterthought in society?
Author	AnFGhoster
Upvotes	82
Comments	26
Date	November 22, 2025 2:20 PM UTC (7 months ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates/comments/1p3udu3/why_is_fatherhood_treated_as_an_afterthought_in/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates/why-is-fatherhood-treated-as-an-afterthought-in.1567134 https://theredarchive.com/post/1567134

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