“Mama Says: A National Survey of Moms’ Attitudes on Fathering”

The national survey taking analyzes how today’s mothers view fathers and fatherhood. It finds that the vast majority of mothers – 93 percent – say that there is a father absence crisis in America. But while the majority of mothers view stable, well-functioning marriages as extremely important to good fathering, more than half say fathers are replaceable by single mothers, and two-thirds say that they are replaceable by other men.

The survey’s findings suggest sharp differences in how married and unmarried mothers perceive fathers, with married mothers reporting much more positive views on fatherhood performance. The survey also analyzes mother’s views on obstacles to good fathering and how fathers balance work and family, with special attention to the effects of race and religion.

The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI), founded in 1994, works to engage fathers in the lives of their children. The survey, conducted by hte University of Texas Office of Survey Research, questioned 1,533 mothers over the age of 18 with at least one child in the home under the age of 18.

Read the report.