Impact of Single Fathers on Childrens Gender Identity Development

Abstract

Instructor’s Name Introduction. Gender identity is an individual’s internal experience of gender. It correlates with being male or female or both. It is evident that around the age of two, children can identify their physical differences and through their conscience, they can distinguish themselves as boys and girls. A child’s gender identity is influenced by family, society, environment, and the media. Parents significantly impact children’s gender development since they are the first people to provide them with lessons about gender. They act as role models to their sons and daughters hence contributing to molding their behaviors. According to (Khudyakova et al., 2016), the problem of gender identity formation is very acute in modern society. The concept of gender identity formation for single parents derails a child’s understanding of masculinity and femininity, the idea f being male and female, and the behavior patterns in society. For various reasons, it is ideal for children to be raised by both parents for a harmonious relationship and the development of adaptive functional gender identity. However, divorce, breakups, abandonment, death of one parent, rape, and domestic violence contribute to single parenting. The concept of single fatherhood is never discussed more often in society compared to single motherhood. Women are more likely and capable to head single-parent families compared to men. Single parent households manifest alienation of the non-dominant parent creating a symbiotic relationship with the dominant parent. Society tends to favor single mothers acknowledging that they are the most vulnerable group compared to single fathers. This paper will discuss the concept of gender identity development and single fathers, the positive and negative impacts on gender identity development, and reforms that uphold gender identity development for single fathers. A) The concept of Gender Identity Single father Ideology about Gender Identity. From a gender perspective, children internalize parents’ ideologies and assertions about gender in their childhood. Fathers are culturally oriented in family providence and authority and development and a child identity I often a second thought. Men are ignorant compared to women concerning their children’s needs. They need to be reminded and taught about the welfare of their children. Single fathers are ignorant of some basic issues faced by girls and sometimes cannot replace the hand of the mother. Society today has seen an increase in media and internet use. Fathers sometimes allow their children to dress inappropriately, promoting transgender in their children. For instance, media portrays celebrities and pop musician men wearing skirts while performing as a sign of contemporary culture. Male children can emulate such lifestyles. Fathers lacking knowledge on the likely effect of such actions will likely promote gender identity issues in their children. Mothers often ridicule their sons and daughters when they dree inappropriately but fathers are reluctant in enforcing an ideal mode of dressing in their households creating gender identity issues. How do single fathers influence Gender Identity Development? According to (McMunn et al., 2017), Interest in the role of fathers has grown as cultural expectations regarding gendered roles within the family began to shift over the latter part of the 20th century (Quoted in). Fathers are becoming more accessible and available in routine child activities. Single fathers are contrary to the societal norms as breadwinners and embrace child care. Only a person can define their gender identity. Gender identity and sex are different since gender identity defines what a person feels on the inside. Some people identify themselves as wholly masculine others full feminine, others in between, and some neither gender. There are different types of gender identity including transgender, agender, androgyne, bigender, butch, cisgender, nonbinary, and omnigender. Gender identity is diverse and how an individual is brought up influences gender identity. Gender identity is expressed in different forms, and single fathers may fall short in identifying the different forms of expressions of gender as their children grow. Children express their gender identity through their social groups such as friends, mode of dressing and hairstyles, and social behavior. Girls raised by single fathers engage in social relationships with boys adapting masculine traits. Gender stereotypes have changed over time. Single parenting has contributed to the dynamics of stereotyping on gender roles. Single fathers are enhancing child development. Today there are numerous male chefs who in the traditional setting were attributed to the female gender. The social and environmental setting greatly influence the child’s gender identity. Children vicariously observe and imitate what their guardians do, which significantly influences their child’s gender identity formation. Lesbian, Bisexual, Questioning, Intersex and Transgender Children are common and becoming a subject of concern today. Gay single fathers are likely to yield to gays sons in the process. The model of children’s social adjustment under gender roles with single fathers Gender socialization in the contemporary world is greatly influenced by single parenting. Parents reinforcing socially acceptable behavior is common and cuts across all cultures. According to (Khudyakova et al., 2016), research suggests that the gender of both parent and child plays a role in how gendered beliefs are passed across generations. Father communication on gender roles in the contemporary setting is more directed towards sons than daughters. This ideology makes fathers and their sons make unanimous agreements. Gender identity development is a critical issue and is influenced by personal experiences in the socialization process. Gender roles are dynamic and children raised by single fathers tend to perform both male and female duties. Single parenting promotes mingling of both genders and adjusting to an ideal social life that does not portray isolation of boys and girls. In schools maths, chemistry, and physics are perceived courses for boys, but girls are becoming the masterminds today. Fathers teach their sons and daughters to be sharp and straight. Fathers are always strictly creating an ideal environment for nourished and disciplined kids. The Issues and Challenges faced by single fathers; Enhancing gender identity development. Single fatherhood is demanding and overwhelming. This group of people raises their children in a confronting and convicting environment, a society where single fathers are abhorred. The know-how to raise a girl is a challenge to most single dads and most probable influences their gender identity. The challenges single fathers face contribute to the gender identity development of the child—divorce, death, and separation for instance, is characterized by overwhelming emotions, visitation and custody problems, conflicts that still exist between the parents, and personal work responsibilities. Children growing up in such a family structure do not have a good basis for development. Their vulnerabilities make them believe that entanglements and conflicts encompass family structure. Children are brought up lacking the ideal family set up and that’s what sinks in their lifestyle. It contributes to choosing the different gender identities such as lesbianism, gay, trans, and transgender. Gendered assumptions about Family Responsibilities. Restrictions on how men and women should behave are deeply entrenched in society, affecting single fathers. According to (Marks et al., 2009) using the socialization perspective, parents act as reinforcers, models, and instructors of children’s gender roles and attitudes. Like...