Life Without Father: Compelling New Evidence That Fatherhood and Marriage Are Indispensable for the Good of Children and Society

“Life Without Father” by David Popenoe argues that the decline of fatherhood and traditional marriage in America, driven by rising divorce rates, single parenthood, and stepfamilies, harms children and society. A sociologist at Rutgers University, Popenoe uses evidence from social sciences, history, and biology to challenge the optimistic view that new family structures are benign or beneficial. He links fatherlessness—especially prevalent in inner cities, where two-thirds of children grow up without fathers—to issues like poverty, juvenile delinquency, and teen pregnancy. Popenoe asserts that children thrive best with both parents’ distinct roles and that marriage binds fathers to their families. He warns of worsening societal problems unless cultural attitudes shift from individualism to collective well-being, urging employers, policymakers, and communities to reinforce fatherhood and marriage for the sake of child development and social stability.