Who Makes the Better Father?
A few months ago, I caught part of a talk radio show. The woman being interviewed had just written something (either an article or a book, I’m still not sure) that celebrated men.
It may have gone unnoticed by the general public but the vast repository of articles written about men the last few decades have been decidedly derogatory in nature. Simply put, men possess few qualities that modern society admires.
The author – I never did catch her name – probably decided that writing something positive about men would let her stand out among current writers. The woman was discussing a few qualities that she admired about men and how much men meant to our society, when the male host asked two revealing questions.
The host lamented the absence of so many fathers in our society before asking something like, “Do men still have something to contribute to the family?”
Without pausing, the author enthusiastically replied, “Absolutely!”
The host continued, “Do you believe that all things being equal, having both a father and a mother is better for the children than having two parents of the same-sex?”
Without pausing, the author eagerly asserted that, yes, having heterosexual parents would be preferable.
There was a commercial break, and when the show continued the author interrupted the host to announce that her last answer had been mistaken. She explained that all things being equal, having a mother and a father was in no way preferable for the children than having two mothers. The interview continued for a few minutes before I either turned it off or it ended.
The first point I wish to make is that I believe her initial, instinctive answer to the second question is what she really believed. Deep down she probably did believe that all things being equal it would be more beneficial for children to have two parents of different sexes than two parents of the same-sex. But considering the social climate that we live in today, the author must have quickly decided to change her answer so that she would not be accused of homophobia. This is purely speculative on my part, of course, and only she knows the truth.
The second interesting point is that the author claimed to be championing men’s importance in society and the family. Yet, in what is arguably the most significant responsibility in our society – child rearing – she felt that a father could offer nothing to the family that could not be replicated by a second mother. Consequently, even in a role that is uniquely male – fatherhood – she believes that another woman could easily fill that role and do it just as well.
But what then does she really believe is so great about men? If a woman can fill the role of fatherhood as well as a man, what good are men in relation to the family unit? Her argument was that men have a very important role to play in the family – unless another woman was available. Which means, of course, that there is nothing uniquely male to contribute to the family and she just contradicted her previous answer.
There is also a third aspect of this that I find interesting. Without knowing much about the author’s socio-political views, I would wager that she is a strong advocate of cultural diversity. Diversity is our greatest strength, we are told by society – politicians foremost.
Our society has decided that diversity improves everything. Corporations, religious institutions, personal associations, political parties, youth organizations, community service groups, news and entertainment, and even the armed forces, are all enhanced when they diversify by sex, race, ethnicity, and even religious affiliation.
I’m sure the author would agree on diversity’s importance in our society. Except, as she stated, when it comes to parenting. Parenting need not embrace diversity by having a male and a female parent. When it comes to parenthood, the current politically correct acceptance of homosexuality supersedes diversity.
Men then offer nothing to the family. At least nothing that is uniquely male – not even as a proper male role model. He can offer no advice, no personal experience, no wisdom, and no discipline to either a son or a daughter that could not be easily replicated by a woman. That would be the logical conclusion of one of the few female authors that celebrates men.