SURVEY OF FATHERS' RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

*********************************************************** SURVEY OF FATHERS' RIGHTS ACTIVISTS (c) 1995 Troy A. McGinnis All rights reserved. *********************************************************** The following is an abstract for a paper I am working on using the data from the survey distributed to the signatories of the FATHERS' MANIFESTO and to the mailing list of TFA in October. This paper represents my first wave of statistical analysis on the survey, and should be available after the Southwest Social Science Association meeting in March. In addition to this abstract, I am including other information from the survey that might interest your constituencies. This report is by no means definitive, and I must remind everyone who reads this that the results of this survey reflect at best only the attitudes and beliefs held by the population of fathers defined by these data. I cannot endorse a statement that generalizes these results beyond the population of men who meet the criteria for participation in this study. In other words, these results do not apply to *all* men, or *all* fathers. To those of you who took the time to complete and return the survey, a special thanks. I get the impression that this survey was not easy for everyone, and at times evoked strong and perhaps unpleasant emotional reactions. I would be lying if I said that this has been a pleasant experience; the level of fear, suspicion, anger, and worry evinced by many men during the data-gathering process was extremely discouraging, and at times, more than a little irritating. Overall, though, the experience has been positive, and I believe the data tells an interesting, sometimes sad, sometimes very hopeful story about what it means to be not just a father, but a man in the 1990s. I would also like to thank those men who did *not* respond to the survey proper, but instead chose to write me directly about problems and their personal concerns about the study. The Fathers' Rights Movement: Backlash or Birthright? Troy A. McGinnis ABSTRACT The small but growing "fathers' rights" movement in the United States appears to be an anomaly. While "fathers' rights" advocates claim the goal of the movement is equality in parenting after divorce, numerous studies point to a general unwillingness of men to remain involved with or provide consistent support to the children of their failed marriages. More often than not, advocacy for stronger fatherhood is casually dismissed as a nostalgia-driven patriarchal backlash against the advances made by women in recent years. This paper examines an alternative explanation for the emergence of this particular kind of men's rights activism: that most fathers' rights activists are motivated less by nostalgia and patriarchal traditionalism than by (1) a heightened sensitivity to gender-based social inequality and (2) a commitment to correction of inequities in family matters. It is intriguing that both these motivators could be at least partly attributable to the enduring success of feminism and the women's movement in changing traditional ideas about male gender roles in families. Using an original survey distributed in November, 1995, to more than 1000 men associated with fathers' rights activism, the researcher examines men's attitudes toward women and about manhood; marital expectations and behaviors; shifts in political views over the course of marriage, child rearing and divorce; and definitions of fatherhood in the American family system. Very tentatively, the data suggest that while men in the movement strongly claim to be anti-feminist, they nevertheless do not appear to adhere very strongly to traditional attitudes regarding marriage or divorce, nor is it evident that these men highly value traditional gender roles for men or women, either at home or work. The possibility exists that the fathers' rights movement, though embryonic at this point, signals a realignment of men's perceptions of parental rights, responsibilities and relative status that more closely parallels women's perceptions, a precondition that could herald the entry of some but not all men into the realm of identity politics on the basis of their commitment to paternity. *** THE SURVEY In layman's terms, my survey was designed to measure commitment to traditional or patriarchal roles in men who are active or have a compelling interest in their rights and responsibilities as parents. A strong commitment to traditionalism would be indicative of the kind of "patriarchal backlash" against feminism described by so many critics of fatherhood and fathers' rights. However, my findings do not lend strong support to this idea. In the absence of this so-called "backlash", what becomes salient in the data is a marked level of egalitarian thinking among these men, and a tendency to describe their views in individualist terms. They are less concerned with having power over women than with having power over the events and experiences that shape their own lives. The survey included 228 items, and was estimated to require 40 minutes to complete. Response rate for the survey was about 1%, which is very low, but not surprising given the complexity of the survey, technical problems associated with electronic delivery of the questionnaire, and the amount of time required to complete and transmit it. Of the 48 responses received, 46 were valid. I received one response that somehow used a form of the survey that was *not* distributed, so it could not be counted. THE SAMPLE The overwhelming determinant of character for the survey was the fact that it was delivered via the Internet. Despite the fact that the sample probably does not reflect the actual population of divorced men with children (which is not the intent), it does give me a sample of white, educated middle-class men with estranged wives and/or children who according to popular ideological assumptions would be most likely to report a strong commitment to patriarchal traditionalism. Average annual income in the sample approaches $40,000. Seventy percent of the men surveyed hold a bachelor's or higher degree. For the most part, ethnic composition of the sample reflects current data on ethnicity of Internet users, with 82% white, 4.4% Hispanic, 4.4% Native American, 2.2% Asian American, and 6.7% other/non-identified. Interestingly enough, Native Americans, Asian-Americans and Hispanic Americans are slightly over-represented in the sample, yet African American men are not represented at all. Despite black fathers' under-representation in the sample, however, 42% of respondents think that the "crisis of fatherhood" is most acute for African Americans while 30% believe the crisis is most acute in the white population (More telling, perhaps, is that 20% of respondents said the crisis was most severe in the "Other" category, which they specified as "all" segments of the population). Respondents ranged in age from 27 to 59 years of age with a mean (and median) age of 40 years. About 65% of the men married for the first time when they were 25 years old or younger, and about 54% had divorced by the time they were 31. Ten percent of these first marriages lasted 20 years or more, but fully 75% of all first marriages in this survey lasted 10 years or less, and more than half of those marriages (45% of the total number of first marriages) had dissolved by the 5-year mark. These findings are largely consistent with the body of research on first-marriage dissolution rates. Current marital status: 54% of the respondents are unmarried and living single, while 28% are currently in second or subsequent marriages. Only 9% are cohabiting with a romantic interest, and one respondent is currently still in his first marriage. ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTIONS The "results" that follow are not final, and are presented here informally. There may be calculation errors that have arisen from the data entry process. Not all tallies will total 100.0% due to missing data and/or invalid responses. Many questions that appeared on the survey are not included here. I urge caution when drawing causal inferences from percentages without actual statistical analysis of the data. The numbers simply indicate the percentage of respondents who gave a particular answer to a particular question. A HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY TO GENDER-BASED SOCIAL INEQUALITY Are men in this movement sensitive to gender inequality? I attempted to answer this question using survey items that measure commitment to traditional gender stereotypes, and items that measure commitment or acceptance of expanded social roles for women. I have reordered questions in four general sections, as follows. Men's Attitudes Toward Women No job is too dangerous for a woman 15.2% Strongly agree 19.6% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 34.8% Disagree 17.4% Strongly disagree Women are as capable as men of competing for office in the political arena. 34.8% Strongly agree 47.8% Agree 10.9% Neither agree nor disagree 4.3% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree Women know innately how to be good mothers. 4.3% Strongly agree 19.6% Agree 15.2% Neither agree nor disagree 39.1% Disagree 21.7% Strongly disagree Women are as smart as men 26.1% Strongly agree 43.5% Agree 21.7% Neither agree nor disagree 4.3% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree Women are not as willing as men to cheat on their partners 6.5% Strongly agree 10.9% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 26.1% Disagree 43.5% Strongly disagree I trust my spouse/partner with my money 22.2% Strongly agree 42.2% Agree 20.0% Neither agree nor disagree 13.3% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree My daughter will have to work harder than my son to achieve the same success at work. 2.2% Strongly agree 23.9% Agree 26.1% Neither agree nor disagree 32.6% Disagree 15.2% Strongly disagree If I had my way, women would not be allowed to vote 13.0% Strongly agree 4.3% Agree 2.2% Neither agree nor disagree 23.9% Disagree 56.5% Strongly disagree I have more problems at work when my boss is a woman than when my boss is a man. 13.0% Strongly agree 17.4% Agree 41.3% Neither agree nor disagree 19.6% Disagree 8.7% Strongly disagree If the ERA were on the ballot at the next election, I would vote for it. 28.3% Strongly agree 26.1% Agree 19.6% Neither agree nor disagree 8.7% Disagree 17.4% Strongly disagree The contributions of women are at least as important as the contributions of men to human social history and culture. 30.4% Strongly agree 37.0% Agree 10.9% Neither agree nor disagree 17.4% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree Most employers penalize women for having children. 6.7% Strongly agree 22.2% Agree 24.4% Neither agree nor disagree 31.1% Disagree 15.6% Strongly disagree There is no such thing as a "glass ceiling" for women in the workplace. 15.2% Strongly agree 17.4% Agree 37.0% Neither agree nor disagree 26.1% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree I sympathize with the problems single mothers have in society today. 11.4% Strongly agree 40.9% Agree 13.6% Neither agree nor disagree 18.2% Disagree 15.9% Strongly disagree Men's Attitudes About Manhood Patriarchy is real. 17.4% Strongly agree 21.7% Agree 39.1% Neither agree nor disagree 13.0% Disagree 8.7% Strongly disagree Real men don't do housework. 6.5% Strongly agree 0.0% Agree 10.9% Neither agree nor disagree 30.4% Disagree 52.2% Strongly disagree I feel like people expect more of me because of my gender. 48.9% Strongly agree 35.6% Agree 13.3% Neither agree nor disagree 2.2% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Men know innately how to be good fathers. 11.1% Strongly agree 15.6% Agree 20.0% Neither agree nor disagree 46.7% Disagree 6.7% Strongly disagree Men are naturally more aggressive than women. 8.7% Strongly agree 45.7% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 19.6% Disagree 13.0% Strongly disagree Masculinity means different things to different people. There is no unversal definition of manhood. 28.3% Strongly agree 52.2% Agree 4.3% Neither agree nor disagree 13.0% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree I would like to have been a man in the 1950s. 13.0% Strongly agree 8.7% Agree 52.2% Neither agree nor disagree 13.0% Disagree 13.0% Strongly disagree It is naive to think that grown men can be raped or sexually assaulted. 10.9% Strongly agree 4.3% Agree 8.7% Neither agree nor disagree 39.1% Disagree 37.0% Strongly disagree Heterosexual men and homosexual men are more alike then they are different. 6.5% Strongly agree 10.9% Agree 37.0% Neither agree nor disagree 32.6% Disagree 13.0% Strongly disagree A person's sex is important to his or her personal identity. 32.6% Strongly agree 50.0% Agree 6.5% Neither agree nor disagree 6.5% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree Unless a man is in touch with his feminine side, he cannot grow emotionally. 6.5% Strongly agree 15.2% Agree 23.9% Neither agree nor disagree 32.6% Disagree 21.7% Strongly disagree Being a man is better than being a woman. 2.2% Strongly agree 10.9% Agree 63.0% Neither agree nor disagree 8.9% Disagree 13.3% Strongly disagree Men want the same things out of life as women. 0.0% Strongly agree 34.8% Agree 21.7% Neither agree nor disagree 26.1% Disagree 17.4% Strongly disagree Traditional masculine sterotypes that depict men as insensitive, tough and domineering are harmful. 60.9% Strongly agree 26.1% Agree 4.3% Neither agree nor disagree 6.5% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree Tenderness, nurturance, the desire for connection, and cooperation skills are not very masculine. 2.2% Strongly agree 6.5% Agree 4.3% Neither agree nor disagree 43.5% Disagree 43.5% Strongly disagree When a person is hurting emotionally, it often helps to cry. 26.1% Strongly agree 52.2% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 8.7% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree I am a typical man. 8.7% Strongly agree 37.0% Agree 21.7% Neither agree nor disagree 23.9% Disagree 8.7% Strongly disagree Sons in this society generally have had a better chance of becoming successful adults than daughters. 4.4% Strongly agree 15.6% Agree 28.9% Neither agree nor disagree 40.0% Disagree 11.1% Strongly disagree Women control men's sexuality. 30.4% Strongly agree 37.0% Agree 28.3% Neither agree nor disagree 4.3% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Men, Marriage and Family A husband has more say over family decisions than a wife does. 0.0% Strongly agree 19.6% Agree 21.7% Neither agree nor disagree 37.0% Disagree 21.7% Strongly disagree Marriage is an equal partnership between two individuals 50.0% Strongly agree 32.6% Agree 6.5% Neither agree nor disagree 6.5% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree Men care more about their wives than they do about their children. 0.0% Strongly agree 8.7% Agree 37.0% Neither agree nor disagree 39.1% Disagree 15.2% Strongly disagree A man's job is to earn money outside the home, and a woman's job is to manage the home and raise the children. 8.7% Strongly agree 17.4% Agree 23.9% Neither agree nor disagree 26.1% Disagree 23.9% Strongly disagree I have always wanted to have children. 39.5% Strongly agree 30.2% Agree 2.3% Neither agree nor disagree 27.9% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Did you cohabit with your first spouse for more than 6 months before marriage? 44.4% Yes 55.6% No If you are/were currently single, how likely would you be to cohabit with a prospective spouse or romantic partner before marriage? 55.6% Very likely 31.1% Likely 6.7% Not very likely 6.7% Very Unlikely I always believed that I would only marry one time. 50.0% Strongly agree 38.6% Agree 9.1% Neither agree nor disagree 2.3% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree A marriage need not end in divorce because of a single extramarital affair. 22.2% Strongly agree 51.1% Agree 13.3% Neither agree nor disagree 11.1% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree A wife has the right to work outside the home even if her husband's income is sufficient to maintain the household. 29.5% Strongly agree 47.7% Agree 13.6% Neither agree nor disagree 6.8% Disagree 2.3% Strongly disagree I married too young. 17.8% Strongly agree 24.4% Agree 8.9% Neither agree nor disagree 35.6% Disagree 13.3% Strongly disagree Values The love between a man and a woman is the single most important component of marriage. 41.3% Strongly agree 23.9% Agree 2.2% Neither agree nor disagree 28.3% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree Divorce is too easy to get now. 63.6% Strongly agree 20.5% Agree 4.5% Neither agree nor disagree 11.4% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Getting a divorce was the best thing that ever happened to me. 13.3% Strongly agree 24.4% Agree 22.2% Neither agree nor disagree 24.4% Disagree 15.6% Strongly disagree I was taught to believe that when a man and woman married, the man was ultimately responsible for the family. 47.8% Strongly agree 41.3% Agree 8.7% Neither agree nor disagree 0.0% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree Men should spend more time with their children than they do. 47.8% Strongly agree 34.8% Agree 10.9% Neither agree nor disagree 2.2% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree Married fathers are better fathers. 6.5% Strongly agree 17.4% Agree 30.4% Neither agree nor disagree 21.7% Disagree 23.9% Strongly disagree Single men should be allowed to adopt children. 39.1% Strongly agree 37.0% Agree 8.7% Neither agree nor disagree 15.2% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Homosexual male couples in committed relationships should be allowed to adopt children 6.5% Strongly agree 13.0% Agree 19.6% Neither agree nor disagree 10.9% Disagree 50.0% Strongly disagree Feminism is the same thing as women's rights. 0.0% Strongly agree 10.9% Agree 6.5% Neither agree nor disagree 21.7% Disagree 60.9% Strongly disagree The goal of feminism is equality for men and women. 4.3% Strongly agree 2.2% Agree 2.2% Neither agree nor disagree 26.1% Disagree 65.2% Strongly disagree I used to be supportive of feminism, but I no longer am. 34.8% Strongly agree 32.6% Agree 19.6% Neither agree nor disagree 10.9% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree Were you present at the birth of at least one of your children? 85.7% Yes 14.3% No Were you present at the birth of all your children? 73.1% Yes 26.9% No A COMMITMENT TO CORRECTION OF INEQUITIES IN FAMILY MATTERS How do men involved with fathers' rights perceive their roles and the role of fathers generally in the family? What makes a man a father? These questions raised difficult issues for respondents. The problem seen in these distributions is a lack of clarity in the definition of fatherhood and of marriage as it relates to fatherhood. On the surface, these data appear to support the conclusions drawn by many pro-father students of the family, including David Blankenhorn, who suggests that the retreat from fatherhood has stripped men of well-defined roles and replaced those supposedly outdated roles, including "husband" and "father," with nothing that is workable for either men or society. I also attempted to measure perceptions of marginalization of men and manhood. My results suggest that despite their generally egalitarian views on gender, parenting, and marriage negotiation, these men feel pushed out of families to the rough-hewn edges of society. At the risk of inviting sharp criticism, I might very tentatively suggest that if these data are indicative of the perceptions of divorced fathers who are committed to children, then what social change over the past thirty years or so has produced amounts to this: Men whose most powerful claim to parental identity lies in their biological ties to children whose lives they feel powerless to share or shape. It appears that the men in this survey feel excluded and powerless. I am inclined to characterize these men as "empty vessels," living "lives of quiet desperation." Ironic, is it not? Again, I urge caution in reviewing these data in this form. Think carefully about the survey questions and response rates in relation to other questions, at how different measures interact with other measures. Look at patterns, ambiguities, and confusion. Look at consistencies. The goal here is to discover the questions to which this information might provide answers; don't look for answers first. Defining Fatherhood How important is marriage relative to fatherhood? 37.0% Very important 50.0% Important 13.0% Not very important 0.0% Not important at all Never-married fathers should have the same rights with respect to their children as divorced fathers. 58.7% Strongly agree 32.6% Agree 4.3% Neither agree nor disagree 4.3% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Men choose to be fathers the moment they have sex with a woman. 0.0% Strongly agree 4.3% Agree 4.3% Neither agree nor disagree 45.7% Disagree 45.7% Strongly disagree The man who is married to the child(ren)'s mother is the father. 4.3% Strongly agree 10.9% Agree 15.2% Neither agree nor disagree 19.6% Disagree 50.0% Strongly disagree A biological father whose offspring is conceived before, but born after the mother marries another man should pay child support to the married couple caring for his child. 4.4% Strongly agree 26.7% Agree 40.0% Neither agree nor disagree 8.9% Disagree 20.0% Strongly disagree A biological father whose offspring is conceived before, but born after the mother marries another man has a right to claim paternity and all the privileges associated with it. 60.9% Strongly agree 23.9% Agree 8.7% Neither agree nor disagree 2.2% Disagree 4.3% Strongly disagree The man who lives with the child(ren) is the father. 2.2% Strongly agree 4.3% Agree 21.7% Neither agree nor disagree 23.9% Disagree 47.8% Strongly disagree Biological fathers who live apart from their children should have less responsibility for them if the children are living with their mother and a stepfather. 2.2% Strongly agree 2.2% Agree 21.7% Neither agree nor disagree 30.4% Disagree 43.5% Strongly disagree Fatherhood is defined by the biological connection between a man and his offspring 21.7% Strongly agree 21.7% Agree 6.5% Neither agree nor disagree 28.3% Disagree 21.7% Strongly disagree Fatherhood is defined by the level of social support a man provides to his offspring. 34.8% Strongly agree 30.4% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 15.2% Disagree 6.5% Strongly disagree Fatherhood is not dependent on a biological relationship, nor should it be. 15.2% Strongly agree 28.3% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 13.0% Disagree 30.4% Strongly disagree Should divorced and absent stepparents be required to pay child support for all children in the home, or only those children born to the marriage (those genetically related)? 9.1% All the children in the home, regardless of genetic relatedness 63.6% Only those children born to the marriage and genetically related to the father 25.0% Don't know My job takes up too much of my time. 19.6% Strongly agree 45.7% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 19.6% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree A husband has the right to stay home to care for children if his wife's income is high enough to maintain the household. 43.5% Strongly agree 34.8% Agree 15.2% Neither agree nor disagree 4.3% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Politics of Manhood I see fatherhood more as ... 39.0% Duty 52.2% Right My representative in congress is concerned about fathers' rights. 0.0% Strongly agree 4.3% Agree 13.0% Neither agree nor disagree 30.4% Disagree 52.2% Strongly disagree Laws are equally applied to men and women. 0.0% Strongly agree 0.0% Agree 0.0% Neither agree nor disagree 17.4% Disagree 82.6% Strongly disagree Single dads receive the same social support as single moms. 0.0% Strongly agree 2.2% Agree 0.0% Neither agree nor disagree 8.7% Disagree 89.1% Strongly disagree There are different rules of conduct for men than for women in the workplace. 47.8% Strongly agree 39.1% Agree 4.3% Neither agree nor disagree 8.7% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Funding resources for higher education are as available to men as to women. 6.5% Strongly agree 13.0% Agree 23.9% Neither agree nor disagree 30.4% Disagree 26.1% Strongly disagree Joint custody is the only way to make divorce fair where children are involved. 52.2% Strongly agree 21.7% Agree 6.5% Neither agree nor disagree 19.6% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree Men are denied custody of their children in most divorce cases solely on the basis of their sex. 78.3% Strongly agree 19.6% Agree 0.0% Neither agree nor disagree 2.2% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree I enjoy freedoms and privileges that people of the opposite sex do not. 4.3% Strongly agree 19.6% Agree 23.9% Neither agree nor disagree 26.1% Disagree 26.1% Strongly disagree To ensure that social equality is maintained, it is necessary to provide special legal protections for women against male aggression. 6.5% Strongly agree 4.3% Agree 10.9% Neither agree nor disagree 32.6% Disagree 45.7% Strongly disagree Men are discriminated against solely on the basis of their sex. 69.6% Strongly agree 23.9% Agree 2.2% Neither agree nor disagree 2.2% Disagree 2.2% Strongly disagree If you are a man, do you think you would have more control over your life if you were a woman in today's society? 46.7% Yes 24.4% No 28.9% Unsure Married women should never be required to notify their husbands that they intend to terminate a pregnancy. 0.0% Strongly agree 6.5% Agree 2.2% Neither agree nor disagree 17.4% Disagree 73.9% Strongly disagree Never-married fathers should have the same rights with respect to their children as divorced fathers. 58.7% Strongly agree 32.6% Agree 4.3% Neither agree nor disagree 4.3% Disagree 0.0% Strongly disagree When I have sex, I always assume that I am responsible for birth control. 13.3% Strongly agree 28.9% Agree 26.7% Neither agree nor disagree 26.7% Disagree 4.4% Strongly disagree The right to an abortion is a basic human right. 13.0% Strongly agree 15.2% Agree 21.7% Neither agree nor disagree 13.0% Disagree 37.0% Strongly disagree Would you support a law that established a legal relationship--but not adoption--between your children and a steparent, or between you and your stepchildren? 6.5% Strongly agree 15.2% Agree 32.6% Neither agree nor disagree 19.6% Disagree 26.1% Strongly disagree How often have you physically hurt a spouse or partner in anger? 75.0% Never 15.2% Once 8.7% More than once How often has an angry spouse or significant other hurt you physically? 34.1% Never 4.5% Once 61.4% More than once How many times have the police been called to your home because of domestic violence? 66.7% Never 22.2% Once 11.1% More than once Has anyone ever called you a "deadbeat dad"? 48.8% Yes 39.0% No 12.2% Unsure 6.50 Are you ever afraid of being falsely accused of molesting your children? 21.9% All the time 31.7% Sometimes 17.1% Once in a while 29.3% Never SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT From a feminist point of view, one might say, the men in my sample have the most to lose as a result of social change, therefore their responses should be conservative and reflect a strong tendency toward maintaining (or returning to) traditional gender roles, an imbalance of power favoring men over women in families, and a general attitude of male superiority in the functional aspects of social organization, including government and employment. I ask you, is that what these results say? I conducted this survey to learn more about men who are serious about fathers' rights. The question that initiated my research was rather simple: why are these men, who are committed to their children, who want to share parenting, who want to be a part of their children's lives even after what for many is a personally and emotionally devastating event (divorce), treated so negatively by social science, and feminist social science in particular? On the face, it appeared to me that fathers' rights activists were trying to be the kind of men feminist activists have wanted to see all along...that they were the ideal men our progressive society was waiting for, yet they are still ostracized and marginalized by policy-makers, social activists, and academia. Fathers' rights activism is simply not studied. No one takes fathers seriously. I thought that that was a mistake, and for me this study is the first of many I hope to conduct that does not operate on the assumption that the male social experience is inconsequential or immune to pitfalls and benefits of social change. Fathers' rights activists, from what I see in my data, represent a different breed of men. They are certainly not the kind of men they have been painted to be. They appear to be politically progressive, sensitive to inequality and social inequity, have a sense of fairness, and a desire to be recognized as individuals with real and equal rights. Particularly, and surprisingly, these men seem to root their claim to equality in sexual identity and reproduction, to their unique role in producing and socializing children. A cursory review of the data shows a tendency among respondents to be more "conservative" only on issues of reproductive rights, or in response to situational questions that would threaten their legal and social relationships to their biological children. Interestingly enough, though, these men appear to be much more liberal and egalitarian in their marriages. One series of questions not included here delved into the nature of the marriage negotiation. Tentatively, I see a number of men who describe their first marital arrangements in very egalitarian terms (including a particularly strong indicator of egalitarianism--separate checking accounts), yet characterize their marriages as "traditional." This, despite the fact that a bare majority of the men surveyed said they shared their fathers' values relative to family, marriage, and women. I have not yet analyzed this trend, but such response incongruities suggest that these men see *equal* partnerships and *equal* marriages as the *norm,* and not the exception, which calls into question the entire notion of generational transmission of so-called "patriarchal" values. It is my hope that in sharing this information, I'm giving everybody something to think about. I don't like the idea that my data will be used to simply say, "Yup, that's what we think." More to the point, I would like to encourage people to think about what the body of data actually says about the lives of men, men with children, men with families and men without. I hope people talk about these data, discuss the findings, try among themselves to explain the trends and ideas expressed in them. All of this research is useless if it doesn't get people to start thinking about the issues at hand, and if it fails to encourage more and better research in this area. As I stated earlier, this is an *informal* and non-final report. I will provide more complete results as soon as I have corrected the minor errors in the data file. Once again, thanks to everyone who participated in this project. Troy A. McGinnis PO Box 684771 Austin, TX 78768 VM: 512.416.0505 FAX: 512.416.1731 EMAIL: t-mcginnis@mail.utexas.edu