In an era when divorce rates are soaring, child custody decisions are still often made in accordance with traditional assumptions on the role of parents in children's lives. The popular belief that children of divorcing parents should reside with their mother is the result of misconceptions that women are better suited to parental responsibilities. In cases where the father is the best parent for child custody, he may not be given due consideration in official custody decisions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Custody decisions are made according to the most practical way to care for a child, with each parent pursuing the responsibilities they have had in the past. (Frequently Asked Questions) This is where biases carry the most weight in custody decisions, where women are more supportive. When someone thinks of the word mother, that person will most likely create an association with the caretaker of the family. While it is true that women are traditionally responsible for the maintenance of the family and the general well-being of their children, this bias has also extended to child custody issues, leading to presumptions by bailiffs about each parent's role in the lives of the children. children. Children In an age where the best interests of the child are given increasing consideration in child custody disputes, prejudice against women's increased domestic responsibilities still has a major influence on the opinions of many. Statistics from 1993 show that nearly 75 percent of respondents would be likely to say that, in a divorce settlement involving custody of the child, the mother would be more likely to receive custody of the child. (Mason, 120) While some argue that women get custody in most cases, and thus fuel this opinion, it is precisely this bias that influences official matters and decisions. In custody disputes, the mother is often given more consideration than the father. Again, statistics show that in most cases where the father receives custody, the mother works at night or is involved in educational activities and is clearly incapable of properly caring for the child. (Mason, 133) This is clear evidence that women are favored in custody decisions made by the court. Perhaps due to the recognition of the value of the paternal instinct. Whatever the reason, this has been the precedence established in the past and traditionally many judges find it difficult to change the way they proceed. (Frequently Asked Questions) Often the mother is perfectly capable of raising her child, but falls short in an area that should be equally considered: moral responsibility. This is why I can offer personal experience. In my case, both parents went through a divorce involving children. When my mother and father divorced, custody of the children (my brother and I) was given to my mother. This was a good decision as my original father was incredibly irresponsible in every sense of the word. When my stepfather divorced, custody of the children was also given to the mother. However, judgments about moral responsibility would have found her immediately unsuitable for parental responsibilities. Not only was he having an affair at the time of the divorce, but he also took advantage of my stepfather's shock and stripped him of almost everything, including a lot of it..