Father and Child Reunion

Father and Child Reunion: How to Bring the Dads We Need to the Children We Love

Warren Farrell

‘Just as the last third of the twentieth century was about creating equal opportunity for women as workers, so the first third of the twenty-first century will be about creating equal opportunity for men as parents. Neither goal will be achieved until both goals are achieved.’ Warren Farrell. In Father and Child Reunion Dr Warren Farrell challenges us to be part of a revolutionary act – to acknowledge the importance of fathers in the lives of families. He argues that, in the face of a progressively unsupportive social climate, we need to affirm the vital role of fathers in developing a child’s emotional and social maturation. He reveals how, over the past 30 years, governments, legal systems and the media have reflected a negative attitude to the role of fathers and effectively diminished the importance of men in children’s lives. Farrell shows, for instance, how the current approach to custody and access is damaging children; and how, frequently, fathers are wrongly depicted as abusers. He cites extensive research on child development that links the involvement of the father to significant emotional and social benefits in children.
The best interests of the child, Farrell argues, are served primarily by the intact family and (in the case of divorced families) by shared parent time – that is, joint physical custody. He calls on our political, legal and social institutions and the public to recognise and promote this. At once visionary and practical, Father and Child Reunion is a significant contribution to the key issues facing men, parents and families today.

Father and Child Reunion introduces us to the nurturing side of fathers through a masterful blend of original ideas and hard data. It will inspire and persuade dads to become more involved with their children – a benefit not only to kids, but to mums as well.’ John Gray, author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. ‘A book of incalculable importance and stunning originality, written with lucidity and passion, and backed by exhaustive and impeccable research. The best book I know of on the irreplaceable importance of fathers, plus a new way of thinking about the family.’ Nathaniel Branden, PhD, author of Six Pillars of Self-Esteem.