Orville Taylor, Contributor

In 1957, Edith Clarke published the West Indian sociological classic, My Mother who Fathered Me. Without having read it, many Jamaicans took as a given the notion that the great majority of families in this country were headed by deserted females with five children and a 'wutliss puppa,' somewhere in oblivion.

On Mother's Day today, we still have an anti-father culture which is based on the 'fact' that Jamaican men are eternally absent from their families and children and have to be pursued like fugitives togive child support. What is unfortunate about the title of Clarke's study, was that it does not represent the substance of her findings nor does it match the reality.

Believe it or not, inasmuch as the 'female-headed household' comprises some 48 per cent of all families, this does not mean that they are matriarchal. The fact is, even in families where there is not a residential male spouse, there is often a man, sometimes not necessarily her own, who is helping to run the house. It is for this reason that the data regarding union status of women tend not to match the household data, because almost 'every ho have dem stick a bush'.

Female-headed residences

Furthermore, the data on female-headed residences also include single women who have no children. Indeed, with twice as many women being in the labour force today than 50 years ago, it means that more single, childless women seeking upward mobility, simply live alone. This certainly does not mean that they are without either a significant other, or others. On the contrary, most women who 'live alone' have someone. Many of these are groomed and 'well kept.'

In actuality, a large number of so-called single-person homes are males. This percentage dramatically increases as one examines inner-city neighbourhoods and squatter communities.

Many of these are men who have children and have some sort of relationship with them. Most women, if pressed, will admit that their 'baby fathers' contribute economically, though inadequately. The recent set of studies carried out by researchers, including renowned social anthropologist/sociologist, Barry Chevannes, reveal that the concept of the dead-beat father is more the exception than the rule.

If you think that this is just university 'gobbledegook,' simply check your neighbours or classmates and ask them: "How many of you have fathers who don't deal with you?" Doubtless, there will be few who say, "Me!" However, bet you they will be the minority.

It is this minority, and an even smaller number of them, whomostly find themselves before the Family Court. Within this Family Court group, there is also a set of 'innocent' men, who are dragged there because of bitter women who either believe that the maintenance should be for mother and child, or due to vindictiveness. In a number of cases, as discovered by a University of the West Indies graduate investigator a few years ago, women actually withhold access to the children from the men because they are economically incapable of fully supporting them.

The statement must be made here that it is just as untrue that most Jamaican men are delinquent as it is that most inner-city families are dysfunctional and most young men who live in ghettoes are criminals.

Unfortunately, the justice system is peopled by large numbers of judges and lawyers, who, without the benefit of sociological insight and simple demographic data, perpetuate the stereotype in the application of the law. One of my respected jurist friends, a sensible woman and gender advocate, was in a forum with me a year ago. Despite her great knowledge, it was difficult to convince her that most fathers are not dead-beats and that those before the Family Court are an unrepresentative sample.

A good example of a vindictive irrational female, trying to sink her mate out of jealousy was presented by a lady, with the same surname of the infamous White Witch of Rose Hall. In anger, she presented information to her husband's political opponent simply because she was enraged and suspicious. Tell me, doesn't a woman who subjects her children to negative and untrue statements about their father do them harm? What happens when a child has to face the stigma of having a wife-beater father, (who is not guilty)? What harm is done to a child who constantly hears that his/her father is "nawsy puppa," even though the mother knows that she is merely trying to spite him?

The point of this discussion is that as with so many official policies and statements, the ideas that we have about family and parenting are instructed by myths and legends and not facts.

broken communities

Other myths that are not based on statistics include "one man to seven women" and the fabled "breakdown of the family." How can something that was broken since we were dragged from Africa suddenly get fractured in the 20th century. What got broken were communities, sacrificed on th of Labourites and socialis', as garrisons replaced cooperatives.

But, if both major candidates subscribe to the catchphrase for this month, "Fathers, your children need you," it shows that they are not checking the data either. However, Chevannes' brainchild, Fathers' Incorporated and Lanny Davidson's fathers' crisis group already know that.

It is Child's Month and Mothers' Day. I salute the few female 'soldiers' who have slaved to raise their children by themselves. I also hail those who did so with good men and acknowledge their support, even though they may no longer be together.

Last Thursday, I addressed a group of positive basic-school fathers in Patrick City. Let us affirm the good things about us while not ignoring the negatives.

Dr. Orville Taylor is a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.