21/06/2026
On Father’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on what fatherhood actually represents in our communities not just as a personal role, but as a wider social foundation.
Richard Reeves has written powerfully about this, arguing that if there is one word that captures the challenges facing boys and men today, it is fatherhood. He describes it as a “load-bearing wall” in society something that holds structure, meaning, and stability in place.
And I think there is something important in that.
Because when father figures are absent whether physically, emotionally, or socially. it is often boys and young men who feel it most.
Not just in behaviour or attainment, but in identity, direction, and emotional grounding. Many are left trying to figure out what masculinity looks like without consistent examples of care, boundaries, or responsibility.
But fatherhood isn’t only about biology. It’s about presence. It’s about showing up, offering guidance, and learning to give more than you take.
As Reeves puts it, it can be “the ultimate expression of mature, pro-social masculinity” something that brings structure and purpose not only to children, but to men themselves.
Even though I am not a father yet, in my work and in our communities, I see both the gaps and the potential. I see the impact of absence, but I also see how powerful positive male role models can be in families, sport, mentoring, and everyday relationships.
So on Father’s Day, I’m holding space for both truths:
-For those who had strong fathers or father figures who shaped them.
-And for those still searching for what that role should have looked like.
Because fatherhood, in all its forms, still matters deeply for children, for men, and for the health of our communities
Happy Father’s Day…
