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Fatherless Homes May Be America’s No. 1 Problem

Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash

Fatherless Homes May Be America’s No. 1 Problem

By Dr. Tom Snyder, Editor

According to statistics from multiple government sources and multiple studies, fatherless homes may be America’s biggest problem.

A child raised without a father is five times more likely to commit crime and be poor, nine-times more likely to drop out of school, and 20 times more likely to end up in jail or prison.

Also, the U.S. Dept. of Health and the U.S Census Bureau say 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, and the U.S. Dept. of Justice says 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.

Researchers of Columbia University found that 30% of teenagers in single mother households are more likely to smoke, drink or use drugs. The National Principals Association found that 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.

According to the Heritage Foundation and Marripedia, almost 25 million children have absentee fathers, and families with absentee fathers are “the single most important cause of poverty” and crime.*

Conversely, children in intact families “are the least likely to commit delinquent acts.”

This problem is not new. In their book, Family Life and Delinquency and Crime, Kevin and Karen Wright report that the New York State legislature was made aware of this problem way back in 1829 and 1830!

Dr. Patrick F. Fagan of the Heritage Foundation writes:

  • Over the past 30 years, the rise in violent crime parallels the rise in families abandoned by fathers.
  • High-crime neighborhoods are characterized by high concentrations of families abandoned by fathers.
  • State-by-state analysis by Heritage scholars indicates that a 10% increase in the percentage of children living in single-parent homes leads typically to a 17% increase in juvenile crime.
  • The rate of violent teenage crime corresponds with the number of families abandoned by fathers.
  • The type of aggression and hostility demonstrated by a future criminal often is foreshadowed in unusual aggressiveness as early as age five or six.
  • The future criminal tends to be an individual rejected by other children as early as the first grade who proceeds to form his own group of friends, often the future delinquent gang.

On the other hand:

  • Neighborhoods with a high degree of religious practice are not high-crime neighborhoods.
  • Even in high-crime inner-city neighborhoods, well over 90% of children from safe, stable homes do not become delinquents. By contrast, only 10% of children from unsafe, unstable homes in these neighborhoods avoid crime.
  • Criminals capable of sustaining marriage gradually move away from a life of crime after they get married.
  • The mother’s strong affectionate attachment to her child is the child’s best buffer against a life of crime.
  • The father’s authority and involvement in raising his children are also a great buffer against a life of crime.

Marripedia notes, children in fatherless homes “are more likely to be abused, have emotional problems, engage in questionable behavior, struggle academically, and become delinquent.”

Marripedia cited numerous sources for its conclusions, dating from 1959 through 2015.

The breakdown of the family, especially the increase in fatherless families, is the No. 1 problem in America, not racism, discrimination, inequality, or bad cops.

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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.