“There are many honorable men in America who have chosen to be present in their children’s lives. Giving them a day to recognize the contribution they make to families and society does not equate to hating other family dynamics.”
So-called feminist Lena Dunham took to her Twitter account on Father’s Day to lash out at men. “You don’t need a father—so many families work so many ways—but if you have one, he better werk,” she said in a post she quickly deleted after receiving backlash.
She then wrote, “I love men, I love alternative families and the only thing I hate is people who can’t respect a diversity of family dynamics. Peace.” Apparently the heat became too much for Dunham, so she decided to delete the initial post—demonstrating a great amount of cowardice. She couldn’t stand behind her own words.
Father’s Day is a day to celebrate fathers—who just happen to be men. As a person who grew up with an absent father, I find it disgusting that this woman would say “you don’t need a father.” Oh, but she also posted a tribute to her own father. So she’s basically talking out the side of her face because she has no idea what it’s like to be raised in a single parent household. Fathers are just as important as mothers. I don’t recall seeing any disparaging remarks on Mother’s Day. While children will survive childhood without either present, it isn’t ideal. Turning Father’s Day into something negative has got to be the most asinine thing for a “feminist” to do.
Sure, there are many family dynamics in the United States. There are children being raised by same-sex couples. That’s their business, as is how they choose to celebrate their own family. Father’s Day is not something that needs to be made into a social justice warrior rant. There are many honorable men in America who have chosen to be present in their children’s lives. Giving them a day to recognize the contribution they make to families and society does not equate to hating other family dynamics. The day is not an insult. It isn’t bashing women. It isn’t throwing fire at anyone.
In fact, much of the hatred I see on Father’s Day comes in the form of social media posts made by single mothers who use the day to express disdain for the fathers of their children. The tacky posts are usually to the effect of, “I’m both mother and father so Happy Father’s Day to me. #dontneedyou.”
I have always looked at these types of sentiments as pathetic and embarrassing. I’m also unclear as to what Dunham meant when she said if someone has a father, “he better werk.” If she’s referring to employment, she grossly contradicts herself in terms of respecting family dynamics. It’s not for “feminists” to tell the public how families should operate in regards to a man’s role in his family. It must be exhausting finding an offensive spin on seemingly innocent situations. If men were to speak out against how mother’s aren’t relevant, there would be a social media firestorm. It would also be just as inaccurate as diminishing the role fathers play in their children’s lives.
