THE QATSPY® From the Kerosene Cowboy Journal Perception
By: Charles W. Boatright
The Missing Man formation in Our Society– are Fathers that are not a part of their Families to offer much needed stability/guidance to children. Masculinity has been vilified by our society; but masculinity is important to our society for stability
The Father’s masculinity isn’t the character of RAMBO; but a father masculinity is demonstrated in his Respect for his role in his family; as being Accountable to his wife and children, being a Mentor building confidence and skills in his children, Brave to protect his family, and meet his Obligations as a Father.
Masculinity is a natural set of attributes, behaviors, and roles associated with men and boys to provide guidance in the home and professional areas of life. These masculine traits by fathers in the home benefit both sons and daughters alike. The Missing Man in families are a scourge to our society and has a negative impact leading to Broken Homes.
Father’s Influence on Daughters
Since Title IX came into effect in 1973, you see women’s sports flourish where the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament garnered more views than the 2024 NCAA Men’s Tournament did. You hear in interviews with female athletes described how their fathers played an important role in their development and performance. The same can be said for young men that play various sports. The father’s influence played an important role in both young men’s and young women’s development.
These women that was influenced by their fathers became an important part to both their son’s and daughter’s lives in many areas of their lives.
The Effects of the Missing Man in Society
Men you don’t escape your responsibility to be the father that your family desires and needs.
But the down side of the Missing Man in homes since 1964 has had a negative impact where young men, especially those that didn’t have any male figure in their early life, can lead to devastating results. Men in prison that are interviewed reveal that majority of them didn’t have fathers or had a positive male figure in their lives. This was the reason that they got involved in criminal activities.
We have too many homes in our country where the father isn’t present or is an active part of sons and/or daughters lives that leads to difficulties in early childhood development. I should know, I had a missing father where a lot of my development came late in my life that made it very difficult to achieve my goals.
The success that I did achieve came late in my mid-teens years instead of during early childhood development. Thanks to three male influences of a grandfather, of a close friend of the family (Dow Tiner), and of a Boy Scout Leader, I managed to achieve what I thought would be the impossible dream in my life.
The Importance of the Father Figure
Whether it is a biological father or a father figure, both young men and young women need a father figure in their lives to fully develop socially and emotionally. I was fortunate to have these three men in my teen years.
Instead of downplaying masculinity in men, we should be encouraging masculinity in men that is totally natural behavior. This is what attracts women to men. Some women sharing in interviews that they are finding it difficult to find men that they are attracted to because of the man’s lack of masculinity traits.
Biblical Reference to Masculinity
Even King David of Israel alluded to masculinity as he (David) drew near to his death, where he told his son Solomon in 1 Kings 2:1-3 the following:
(1) When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon, his son. (2) “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, (3) and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.
Now I would like to give a little advice to both young men and young women whether you attend a college or not, give yourself a huge advantage in life- attend a VOTECH College and learn a trade that you can use now or later in life like after you retire, as your second career.
I picked up welding from a friend that I mentioned earlier, Dow Tiner, after I retired as a grid engineer with an utility after 33- years in four states. One of my biggest welding projects that I just completed was 112 lb. smoker/grill (that measures 16″ Dia. x 30″ in length), shown above, that I designed and prepared the shop drawings for and welded up just last week.
I look at my welding as one of the most satisfying and fulfilling work that I have ever done, especially since I’ve retired. I even have a T-shirt that I made up below:
(welder)