The issue of fatherlessness, or the absence of a father’s role in child rearing, is increasingly being discussed. However, Professor Euis Sunarti, Chair of Family Resilience and Empowerment at the Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, emphasizes that this condition cannot be understood simply in terms of the physical presence or absence of a father figure.
Prof Euis explains that the term fatherless refers to the absence of a father’s role, not merely physical absence. There are fathers who live at home but are emotionally and parenting wise absent.
“Conversely, there are children without biological fathers who still receive fatherly functions from their environment,” she said in an IPB Podcast broadcast on IPB TV’s YouTube channel.
Data from the 2024 National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas) shows that around 20.1 percent of Indonesian children are potentially growing up without a father’s care. This figure is derived from indicators such as children living with their mothers alone, living with grandparents without a father, or fathers working more than 12 hours a day.
Prof Euis noted that this data should be understood as a warning to increase attention to child care, not to conclude that families have failed. “It’s a warning for us to raise awareness. Don’t immediately interpret all these conditions as having a negative impact,” she said.
She emphasized that the impact of fatherlessness greatly depends on the presence of a support system. The role of the father can be replaced by other figures such as grandparents, uncles, teachers, or even a positive social environment. In many cases, children still grow up successfully even without a father, especially if the mother is able to provide a good understanding of the family situation.
“Many orphans succeed without behavioral problems because their emotional needs are still met. So it’s not about the presence or absence of a father, but whether the parenting function is present,” she explained.
Conversely, she found in a number of surveys that children can actually experience emotional trauma when their father is physically present but ignores their need for attention. “Some children say they would rather be scolded than ignored. This means that the need for attention is very fundamental,” she added.
She also encouraged the community to build social awareness towards children in their neighborhood. Neighbors, extended family, and the community are considered to have an important role in creating a healthy growing environment. Therefore, the concept of Family Friendly Village that he has been promoting for several years is increasingly relevant.
According to her, parents need to make children a priority by creating positive core memories through consciously designed togetherness. “It’s not always about the length of time. Greeting, listening, or making special plans with children can make the father’s presence truly felt,” she said.
She cautioned against letting the narrative of Indonesia as a country with a high rate of fatherlessness create a negative stigma toward fathers. “Use data to raise awareness, not to blame. Many Indonesian families remain strong because of community support and the value of togetherness,” she concluded. (AS) (IAAS/LAN)
