The term “single parent” is often synonymous with “single mother.” In 1997, single women headed 9.86 million families, while only 1.86 million families were led by single fathers. However, that latter number has grown at a rate of 10 percent a year, while the percentages of two-parent and single-mother families have remained fairly constant. The increase of men taking on a traditionally female role challenges some previously held assumptions on single-parent families.

The growth in the rate of single fatherhood has not garnered much public attention. Some people feel these fathers have yet to receive the recognition they deserve. In an article in the Christian Science Monitor, Shira J. Boss writes: “Rather than being celebrated today, single fathers remain largely invisible. They almost never see themselves portrayed in popular culture, either as single parents or responsible men. When fathers...