Absent Fathers

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 million children in America—1 out of every 3—live in biological father-absent homes. In 2011 12% of children in married-couple 👫families were living in poverty 🏚️, compared to 44% of children in mother-only🤰 families. Black fathers are more than twice as likely than white fathers to live apart from their children (44% vs. 21%), while Hispanic fathers fall in the middle (35%). Among fathers who never completed high school, 49% live apart from their children. This compares with only 7% of fathers who graduated from college👩‍🎓. Children who live absent their biological father are on average at least 2 or 3 times more likely to be poor🏚️, to use drugs🚬💊💉, to experience educational📚, health⚕️🏥, emotional🙆🙍, and behavioral 🙇problems, to be victims of child abuse🤕, and to engage in criminal behavior👮 than their peers who live with married👰🤵, biological (or adoptive parents). Why are the biological fathers absent? Where are the biological fathers? How does having absent biological fathers affect the family dynamics? Was your father absent or present in your life?