| Questions of Father’s Rights in custody disputes | | | | raised by a single father do better in school and have |
| are becoming more prevalent. Father’s Rights | | | | less behavior problems that children raised by a single |
| groups are organizing all over the country. I believe | | | | mother. There are further studies that show children |
| the fact that men find it difficult to obtain custody of | | | | raised by single fathers are absent from school less |
| their children springs from the dated notion of the | | | | often, report fewer illnesses, have fewer problems |
| "tender years doctrine." | | | | with the law in their teenage years and fewer teen |
| Many states had or still have a doctrine in the family | | | | pregnancies. |
| courts that state, absent extraordinary | | | | It is my belief that in order for fathers to have equal |
| circumstances, children of a tender age should always | | | | rights to the custody of their children, they should |
| be placed with the mother. While many jurisdictions | | | | begin a campaign to be recognized as a parent |
| have done away with this doctrine, they appear to | | | | beginning from conception. If a pregnant woman |
| remain adherent to its principle. | | | | chooses to have an abortion, she may do so without |
| At least one barricade to father’s rights has | | | | the knowledge or consent of the father. However, if |
| been the fact that many mothers now work outside | | | | she chooses to give birth to the child, the father will |
| the home. The courts no longer have the excuse of | | | | be responsible for child support for the child for 21 |
| placing the children with the mother because she can | | | | years. This policy is blatantly unfair to the fathers. |
| stay at home to raise them. | | | | Men should organize their efforts to change this |
| Given that line of thinking, a father should arm himself | | | | imbalance and therefore, change the courts |
| for court with various studies that show that children | | | | perception of the rights of fathers. |