Male Responsibility

Introduction

  • Studies show that fathers are important. The role of the father is so important that just by being involved in the lives of his children, a father can improve their health and well being. The more involved a father is in the routine activites of his children, the fewer behavior problems and better school performance those children will have (Child Trends, Inc. What Do Fathers Contribute to Children’s Well Being? Child Trends).
  • A father can still be a good dad and role model even if he does not live in the same house. This activity will discuss the importance of a father’s role in his children’s lives.
  • Over 16 million American children live in homes without their biological father (Arlene F. Saluter, Marital Status and Living Arrangements: March 1994. US Bureau of Census, Current Population Report Series pp20-484. US Government Printing Office, Washington , DC 1996. from ASAP Abstinence Education Resource Directory).
  • Children that do not have their fathers in their lives are at greater risk for drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor education performance, teenage pregnancy and other risky behaviors (Ibid).
  • 76% of teen births are to unmarried teens which means very few children of adolescent parents live in homes with both the biological mother and father (Annie E. Casey Foundation, When Teens Have Sex. Issues and Trends, A Kids Count Special Report, 1999).

As an educator, it is imperative that you are sensitive to the personal situations and home lives of your students. Many students may live in single-parent homes without their fathers and some may not even know their fathers.

Chicken Poster Activity - 10 mins

  1. Refer to the CFOC “Chicken” poster. Have the students break into small groups to discuss the poster. Ask the students to respond to the following questions:
    What does this poster mean?
    Allow each group to create a definition for the word—Responsibility
    Display the definition of “Responsibility”
  2. Have the students break into small groups of either all female or all male. Give each group a stack of magazines.
  3. Have each group cut out pictures of males and females. Then have each group create a “bio” on the cutouts. They are to write a few sentences for each picture on what the responsibilities of being a man or a woman are and how that cutout would maintain a positive self-concept. Each group will create both a male and female.