Since the 1960s, the role for the U.S. father has undergone a kaleidoscope of interpretations: from supernumerary to optional to vital. Two routes of fatherlessness—out-of-wedlock births and divorce—are analyzed here in terms of an increased exposure to social problems (i.e., violent crime and sexually transmitted diseases), which occurs to their children who have grown to maturity. Violent crime is primarily a young man's event. Rates of violent crime within a community are strongly correlated to the level of out-of-wedlock births within that community. However, levels of divorce within a community are not correlated to rates of violent crime within that community. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are less gender biased than is violent crime. The incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in females within a community is strongly correlated to the level of out-of-wedlock births within that community, but not to the level of divorce within that community. Reasons for the different consequences aligned with the different routes of fatherlessness are tentatively explored.
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