Father’s day is an interesting day. It is a day to remember
the fathers of the world—at least in this society here in the West. Father’s
Day is a day to recognize the influence, presence, and significance of the male
in a family unit—however one would define a “family unit.” This day is also a
time of clever marketing to get dad that special “hammer” or lawnmower he has
been wanting, or to treat him to a nice meal at his favorite burger joint—all
with special “incentives” like 50% off this and or “no tax” on that. Father’s
day presents itself with a myriad of choices on what to do for dad. But, the
deeper issue is, what is a dad? What does a dad really look like in today’s
public sphere? Is dad someone who is relegated and minimized to tools, beer,
food, and ties? Or is dad someone bigger than that? Is dad a male or a female?
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