So much has happened in the world of fatherhood in 2005. Here is an archive of the top news stories of interest to fathers and helping us understand the state of fatherhood.
PBS aired a documentary this fall entitled
Breaking the Silence. The general sentiment of fathers, as well as the findings of the PBS ombudsman, was that the story unfairly villified fathers and glamorized mothers, even one who was herself physically abusive. An email campaign promoted by newsppaper columnist Glenn Sacks and others was successful in getting the independent review of the production and showing its unfairness.
Well known family law attorney Jeff Leving launched the publication of a magazine targeting the needs of divorced fathers.
A medical breakthrough this year gave hope to millions of men who have had tesitcular cancer. Research done in Norway opened the door for testicular cancer survivors to once again produce healthy sperm and father children.
Top flight business schools are responding to the needs of students and employers by incorporating work-life balance courses into their curriculum offerings. Helping MBA students recognize the need for family time will benefit a whole new generation of families.
Speaking of work-life balance, the
Christian Science Monitor provided some insight into how George W. Bush manages to balance the tremendous demands on his time from job, family and personal pursuits.
Dads all over the country joined in a variation of the Million Father March theme--they walked their children to the first day of school.
Television's first reality show on stay-at-home dads premiered in 2005. While
Meet Mr. Mom was not a ratings hit, it helped explore the challenges faced by dads who suddenly find themselves with the challenge of running a home and family full-time.
The
Louisville Courier Journal began publishing the names of parents who are behind on child support. Fathers rights groups cried foul, saying the names of mothers who deny legal visitation should also be published, and that sometimes child support is withheld for legitimate reasons.
A new law in Utah and one pending in Wisconsin allows judges to order "virtual visitation" by electronic teleconferencing. The idea of helping dads connect with kids living with a custodial parent far away has some momentum among fathers' rights groups and the legal community.
In a report entitled “Teenagers and Attitudes towards Fatherhood” Fathers, Incorporated explores the thoughts and attitudes of today’s teenagers. The report, compiled after a series of focus groups with teenagers, takes a look at how teenagers interpret the responsibilities and realities of the role of father.
