'Most parents' agree courts should award care to mums

Tiffany Wilkie

Soc 202-02

9/8/06

Current Events Log 4




Copyright 2006 The New Zealand Herald
All Rights Reserved
The New Zealand Herald

September 6, 2006 Wednesday

Headline: 'Most parents' agree courts should award care to mums


This article discusses statistics about the custody of children. Statistics show that mothers are receiving the majority of day-to-day care (custody) of children. The statistics are showing that 65% of orders are awarded to mothers, 11% to fathers, about 12% to another party, and the other 12% share the care of the children. The article states that many fathers enter the hearing feeling defeated so they give consent for the mother to have custody. Many judges are also surprised by the low percentage of shared parenting since many of them often rule in favor of shared parenting. Support groups are now forming to promote discussion about the expectation of fathers around the idea of custody.

This article has taken the focus off of what is important for the child. The issue is not whether women get more custody than men it is that the child is safe. I am concerned about the focus on these numbers because future decisions do not need to be based on the low number of fathers that receive custody. Yes, it is important that a mother and father be involved in the child’s life but at the sake of the child.