Are Fathers Necessary?

Columnist Maureen Dowd of The New York Times drew fire from a variety of people, men and women alike, with her controversial book asking, Are Men Necessary? It’s a good question, but perhaps we should also ask, “Are fathers necessary?” Are men important only for the purpose of procreation, or as fathers do they fulfill an important and overlooked role in the family and society?

The anti-male consortium has its endorsers, and they waste no flattery on the masculine gender. Gloria Steinem once remarked, “A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.” To some, men are little more than an unnecessary commodity. But why this negative view?

Of course, men have not always made the most positive contributions to their collective reputation. Many have backed out of relationships and have given up their responsibility to love, support, discipline and nurture their children. Women have often had to step up to the plate and try to fulfill the roles of both mother and father. Although humans are capable of amazing resilience in the face of difficulty, such situations are obviously far from ideal.

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