Are Men Necessary In Raising Children?

[Sunstone]

Are men necessary in raising children? Do they have an essential role to play that cannot be done by women? If so, what is that?

 

[Circle_One]

Are men necessary in raising children? Do they have an essential role to play that cannot be done by women? If so, what is that?

Nope. Nope. Nope. And I stand by that opinion.

 

[d.]

i agree with the above speaker.

 

[CDRaider]

I believe there is validity to having two people raise children together and as stated in in Sunstones other post about men and women, there are charateristics of both sexs that i think are important to raising a child. I also beleive that it is possible to have those charateristics displayed by men and women. I think if the person/persons raising the children are well rounded enough to teach them how to adjust or at least expose them to enough difference the child will turn out find excluding other variables.

My daddy raised me all by myself but learned the motherly role because of it. My friend was raised just by his mom and she playes both roles. I don't think its the sex that matter but the charateristics the child is exposed to.

 

[cardero]

Are men necessary in raising children? Do they have an essential role to play that cannot be done by women? If so, what is that?

Who is going to show the boy or girl their first Godzilla film? Who is going to play Super Mario Sunshine with them? Who is going to teach their child about the wonder of comics, of Gigantor, of Dragonball Z, how to play guitar? A woman? Pleeeeeeeeeaaaze!!!!

 

[d.]

Who is going to show the boy or girl their first Godzilla film? Who is going to play Super Mario Sunshine with them? Who is going to teach their child about the wonder of comics, of Gigantor, of Dragonball Z, how to play guitar? A woman? Pleeeeeeeeeaaaze!!!!

hey - my grandmother taught me how to play guitar when i was 7. grandmothers are great guitar teachers.

 

[CDRaider]

Who is going to show the boy or girl their first Godzilla film? Who is going to play Super Mario Sunshine with them? Who is going to teach their child about the wonder of comics, of Gigantor, of Dragonball Z, how to play guitar? A woman? Pleeeeeeeeeaaaze!!!!

HEY!!!!!! I'll have you know that I collect comic book (ok thats kinda lie, i used to... ok well my dad gave them to me.. ok... shut up!)

No acutally when I was little I collected matchbox cars but then I did very girly things with them like act out barbie like scenes with the people in the cars. Like going to work then the grocery store and stuff like that. lol, see happy meduims are nice. I'll also have you know i had SERIOUS 25 car pile ups at least once a week that require serious helicopter and ambulance attention!

P.S.-JMoum wants me to tell you that I rolled my eyes when was watching Godzilla with my little brothers and step dad. (YEAH, because I"D SEEN IT A MILLION TIMES)

 

[d.]

...and my girlfriend collects 'elfquest' comics.

 

[cardero]

d. writes: hey - my grandmother taught me how to play guitar when i was 7. grandmothers are great guitar teachers.

cardero writes: Who is going to show the boy or girl their first Godzilla film? Who is going to play Super Mario Sunshine with them? Who is going to teach their child about the wonder of comics, of Gigantor, of Dragonball Z, how to play guitar?

Nothing against your grandmother d. (I'm sure she is a fine woman) but the above list cannot be separated, it is a package deal.

 

[Ozzie]

Are men necessary in raising children? Do they have an essential role to play that cannot be done by women? If so, what is that?

No more than women are necessary. Children grow and develop irrespective of who is in their entourage. However, it is desirable that both sexes are represented as role models. Particularly for boys it is important to have male role models. To deny children male influence is to deprive them.

Speaking from personal experience there are immense differences between boys and girls as a result of their socialisation. I have two of each and although I try to be even handed in raising them I am not alone in influencing their development. The boys view me as a role model more than the girls do as a fact. I am in favour of boys having several different male role models. Perfection in one model does not exist.

People thinking males are not necessary and desirable in raising children are dreaming of Amazon utopia and are deluded.

 

[Circle_One]

Who is going to show the boy or girl their first Godzilla film? Who is going to play Super Mario Sunshine with them? Who is going to teach their child about the wonder of comics, of Gigantor, of Dragonball Z, how to play guitar? A woman? Pleeeeeeeeeaaaze!!!!

*Ahem* Cardero, I think you know me well enough to know that I am quite capable of doing all those things, and more, and I'm a woman.

I taught my son how to play drums at 5 years old and guitar at 7 years old. He's also been reading my collection of over 1000 comics since he's been able to read And I'm sure you know of my movie and music obsession. So I refute your statement.

 

[d.]

Nothing against your grandmother d. (I'm sure she is a fine woman) but the above list cannot be separated, it is a package deal.

well, i wouldn't want my children anywhere dragonball Z anyway...

 

[MaddLlama]

No, there isn't a single trait that men have that women don't share.

 

[CDRaider]

*Ahem* Cardero, I think you know me well enough to know that I am quite capable of doing all those things, and more, and I'm a woman.

I taught my son how to play drums at 5 years old and guitar at 7 years old. He's also been reading my collection of over 1000 comics since he's been able to read And I'm sure you know of my movie and music obsession. So I refute your statement.

JMoum: As Christina always tells me "Yeah, but you don't count, cause you're one percent" In other words, you're an exception to the rule.

Ok, this is CDRaider again. The reason that I tell him that he's one percent is two fold. The first is that he grew up in a very non-western household giving him a new perspective on things that is not often seen by the western population.

BUT the reason that I tell him this that pertains to this thread is because he is very connected with his mom (there is no need for mommas boy jokes, i've exhausted those by now). This has given him a new perspective on life going from a guys understand with a womans perspective edging its way in.

I'm the same way because I was raised by my dad. I am not typically woman because I had more male influence than female but my dad isn't a sterotypical guy either because HE didn't have a dad... so you see, i think that the charateristics of male and female are fluid so yes there is a need for both charateristics to be displayed but it doesn't really matter what gender the person is that displays them.

 

[cardero]

*Ahem* Cardero, I think you know me well enough to know that I am quite capable of doing all those things, and more, and I'm a woman.

I taught my son how to play drums at 5 years old and guitar at 7 years old. He's also been reading my collection of over 1000 comics since he's been able to read And I'm sure you know of my movie and music obsession. So I refute your statement.

Did you ever give Godzilla a chance?

 

[CDRaider]

This is something that kind of shows how men and women can have different characteristics yet still be equals. Although, if you read to the end, it says women are better. Come on guys, suck it up. You know it's true.

‘Blessed are ye! Blessed are ye! Verily ye are worthy of every gift. Verily ye deserve to adorn your heads with the crown of everlasting glory, because in sciences and arts, in virtues and perfections ye shall become equal to man, and as regards tenderness of heart and the abundance of mercy and sympathy ye are superior’. -Abdul-Baha "Paris Talks"

See? Women are better than men. ~JMoum

 

[Quiddity]

Absolutely!!! I believe roles are essential to the development of a child.

 

[Circle_One]

Did you ever give Godzilla a chance?

Of course I did! I'm a big Godzilla fan. Well, old Godzilla, anyway. Not a fan of that new one that was made in the 90's or whatever.

EDIT: 1998, to be exact.

 

[cardero]

I ask you-Who is going to teach them to dance with Elmo!?!?!

WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!!?!?!
http://www.geocities.com/carrdero/LimboElmo.jpg

 

[Circle_One]

JMoum: As Christina always tells me "Yeah, but you don't count, cause you're one percent" In other words, you're an exception to the rule.

Ok, this is CDRaider again. The reason that I tell him that he's one percent is two fold. The first is that he grew up in a very non-western household giving him a new perspective on things that is not often seen by the western population.

BUT the reason that I tell him this that pertains to this thread is because he is very connected with his mom (there is no need for mommas boy jokes, i've exhausted those by now). This has given him a new perspective on life going from a guys understand with a womans perspective edging its way in.

I'm the same way because I was raised by my dad. I am not typically woman because I had more male influence than female but my dad isn't a sterotypical guy either because HE didn't have a dad... so you see, i think that the charateristics of male and female are fluid so yes there is a need for both charateristics to be displayed but it doesn't really matter what gender the person is that displays them.

Ok, Godzilla et al aside, I agree that not all women are like me and I know I'm an exception to the rule.

However, I still stand by my statement that a man is not needed to raise a child, as long as the mother is prepared to take on both roles equally.

I dare anyone to take a look at my son, having been raised alone, by me, and tell me he would have been better off if his drug addict, abusive father had stuck around.

We never have, presently don't, and never will need him, or any other guy.