Gender Frustration

Communication

February 7th 2015

Gender Frustration

If having a father is the right of every child, not just a paycheck, then why is it so difficult for a father, like me, to have equal rights to his child without repercussions? My gender frustration issue centers on why males are expected to pay for their children, but not have an equal role in their lives. There is an imbalance against fathers in our judicial system that needs to be addressed to change the mindset of societal expectations that fathers are only good for financial support and minimal visitation rights.

I am a victim of this imbalance in my county’s judicial system and am actively seeking justice. Many loving and caring fathers are denied their rights to capitalize on one of the things that matter most to us in life, being a leader and mentor for our children. Society has a negative image that many fathers are these deadbeat, non-paying, selfish people that are above the law when really, we are loving and loyal citizens trying to live the “American Dream” This dream is crushed in the courtroom when custody proceedings begin with the father as the respondent. I would not settle for the societal norm. As the child’s father, I deserve to have the same relationship with my child as his of her mother. From the start of a child custody proceeding, a father is put on the defensive, fighting for his rights, and on a mission to prove his worthiness to a judge that barely knows his name. This comes often at a substantial expense, tremendous family hardship, and ill feelings during future co-parenting interactions.

According to Fathers for Equal Rights, they believe “every parent, be they non-custodial or custodial, has a duty to financially and emotionally support his or her children” (Supporting all Children) Where is the line drawn for financial support and how can we provide emotional support if we are allowed to see our children for a maximum of four days month? We should not have to pay thousands...