The role of the father, a male figure in a child's life, is a very crucial role that has been diminishing over the years. An absent father can be defined in two ways; the father is not physically present, or the father is physically present, but emotionally present. For an adolescent, a father is an idolized figure, someone to look up to (Feud, 1921), so when such a figure is absent, it can negatively affect the child's development. Many of the problems we face in today's society, such as crime and delinquency, poor academic achievement, divorce, drug use, early pregnancy, and sexual activity can be attributed to the absence of the father during adolescent development (Popenoe, 1996; Whitehead, 1993). The percentage of adolescents growing up without a father increased from 17% to 36% in just three decades between 1960 and 1990 (Popenoe, 1996). Dr. Popenoe estimates that this number will increase to approximately 50% by the end of the century (Popenoe, 1996). The U.S. Census Bureau reported that of a population of 24 million children, 1 in 3 lives in a fatherless home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009). The role of a father is more than just a parent in the home (Popenoe, 1996). Having a father, the male biological parent in a child's life, is important because it brings with it a different type of parenting that cannot be replicated by anyone else (Stanton, 2010). Fathers who are present and active in a child's life greatly benefit the developing child (Popenoe, 1996). Having a father brings a different kind of love. A father's love is more expected and instrumental, different from a mother's love (Stanton, as cited in Pruett, 1987). The effect of an absent father can be quite devastating on the developing child. of paper ......istics, 1999). McBride, Brent A., Sara K., Sullivan, and Ho-Ho (2005) reported on the achievement levels of an adolescent growing up with a father: "A study of 1330 children with PSID showed that fathers involved a personal level of the child's schooling increases the child's likelihood of success. When fathers take a positive role in their children's education, students feel a positive impact.” (p. 201-216). with two parents are more likely to fail and repeat a grade in school. It is also important to note that children who grow up in single-parent families are less likely to have parents involved in school, 62% of children with two families. has parents involved in school, while children from single-parent families have half of them involved in school (North, Winquist, West, 2001).