Evolving Dads
June 12, 2008
By Dana H. Glazer
Before embarking over a year ago on The Evolution of Dad, a documentary about fatherhood, I thought that, given that I’m a dad myself, I must know something about the subject.
However, after several months of research it struck me how little I truly knew about the big picture on dads.
The hard truth is that more people than you would realize have a bad or non-existent relationship with their fathers. I can’t tell you how many I spoke with who barely knew their dads and have suffered as a result. It was humbling to hear their stories.
There is, of course, the other side of the coin. I traveled out of my home base in Hoboken to film dads like Take Kevin Knussman, a former state trooper in Maryland who took the state to court because he was not allowed parental leave when his wife became ill after giving birth. Or UFC fighter Houston Alexander, a single dad who fights to support his six kids. See what they have to say, in the trailer for our film
There are more reasons for hope. I saw that today’s dads can in some ways find it easier to get involved with their families than in previous generations. The Internet allows for telecommuting, which keeps things more focused on the home. The jobs of men and women are becoming blurred in ways unfathomable a few decades ago, which I believe will eventually lead to more equal parenting. There is also a growing consciousness among fathers about the value of being involved with their kids.
Still, there is room for improvement. We live in a society where the marketplace is king, where productivity and efficiency are more important than people. I heard from dads who say the message they (and more often than not, moms too) receive is to spend more time at work and less time at home. Too often, they give in to the needs of their companies to the detriment of their families. It’s a tough picture.
One of the great realizations I had doing the film is that if dads were more involved with their kids’ lives, it would help solve some of the problems facing our youth today. Teen pregnancy, gang violence, substance abuse…all have their roots in the lack of involved parents — dads especially.
I came to this project thinking I was going to make some touchy-feely documentary about fatherhood, only to realize that the role of fatherhood is one of the most deemphasized, underappreciated and least understood roles in society today. It is my greatest wish that this can be changed.
NJ My Way contributor Dana H. Glazer is a filmmaker and father living in Hoboken with his wife and two young sons.
Recent Articles
- Best Choices, Trying Times
November 18, 2008 - The Bark House
November 17, 2008 - Quilts of Love
November 14, 2008 - Weekend Picks: Strollers and Cougars
November 13, 2008 - Turkey Talk
November 12, 2008 - Are You Boho?
November 11, 2008 - ... Archived Articles