Writing Exercise C

15 March 2016
Title: Striking a Balance in the Home
Kicker: Fathers and mothers both play a different but essential role in a childs development.

Formatted: Font: Italic

Society is witnessing a major shift in how we perceiveit perceives the roles of men and women,
specifically in regards to their place in the home. Many people view the family model and roles
of mothers and fathers to be merely a social construct, however the BYU Wheatley Institutions
Fathers Dont Mother & Mothers Dont Father has a rather different take. In this talk, speaker
Jenet Erikson states, However much we might argue that [roles of mother and father are]

socially constructed, we cannot escape these anatomical, physiological, hormonal

differences. Erikson especially focuses on the essential role of fathers.
In this academic speech, Erikson contrasts the differences between the way a
mothers and fathers cares for their her and his children. For example, while mothers
typically engage in teaching interactions, fathers engage more in play. This type of play is
necessary in teaching the child emotional regulation. Erikson also discusses how
childrens expressive vocabulary comes from their fathers, because fathers tend to carry
on normal adult talk with the child, whereas mothers will adopt baby talk. Fathers also
tend to encourage independence in the child and facilitate children [in] finding their own
solutions.
These different approaches, along with many others Erikson discusses, discussed
in the talk, are both fundamental for children. Children have to develop both, says
Erikson. They have to experience both in order to become health, functioning adults. In
one particular instance, Erikson the speaker notes that even a single father once admitted,
said, An ideal world would be one with a mother and a father. We'd be lying if we
pretended that wasn't true.
Read Jenet Eriksons talk here.
Word Count: 260
Pull Quotes: An ideal world would be one with a mother and a father. We'd be lying if
we pretended that wasn't true.anonymous Ssingle father
However much we might argue that [roles of mother and father are] socially
constructed, we cannot escape these anatomical, physiological, hormonal differences.
Jenet Erikson

Commented [JJ1]: This sentence is redundant.

Commented [JJ2]: Should this word be healthy? You
might want to double check your source.