Equal Role Parenting, Essay Example

The main argument of the paper “Equal Role Parenting” is that there are clear benefits for children in households were parents share equal roles. This argument is based on four premises: 1) Although the “traditional” notion of parenting with the mother serving as main caregiver may be optimal, this is not achievable in the current societal milieu where economic conditions necessitate the mother to work; and 2) Although mothers have traditionally been assumed to be more “nurturing”, the father’s role in similar efforts is just as important in the development of the child; and 3) Children who are raised without a father suffer more; and 4) the old orthodoxy is being overthrown.

Looking at the arguments stated above, there the only blatant informal fallacy would seem to be the fallacy of extremes; that is to say, either the father does nothing or he is equal- there is no middle ground for effort until the threshold of “equality.” Second, although there is evidence presented for some of the points, it is usually one point and not attendant to the greater point. Where the evidence that women are working more or that fathers is are parenting less? Statistics seem to show that fathers are actually taking on more responsibilities during the economic down turn- although that might not be classified as “equality.” Finally, there is a lack of precision in language and an overall paucity of evidence that brings into question their veracity. For example, the notion of “equality” is continually raised throughout the paper; however, nowhere is the concept adequately defined: is it equality of time, effort, outcomes? Also, what are parenting responsibilities? Shouldn’t the putative “parenting responsibilities” take into consideration specialized labour where the man might be more adept at certain tasks (i.e., house uptake) than others? Overall, none of these terms are properly defined or explained throughout the text.