Reporter
With expert commentary from sociologists, psychologists, and family law specialists, “The Evolution of Dad” takes a close and personal look at society to uncover the challenges today’s fathers are facing, and how they can make a stronger and more positive impact on their families.
“The Evolution of Dad” is a documentary by filmmaker Dana H. Glazer that explores how fatherhood in the United States has evolved overtime, what its impact has been on family and society, and how fatherhood will continue to change.
On September 26, 2018, the film was screened at the CSU Bakersfield’s Walter Stiern Library. Following the film, Glazer was present for a Q&A.
The Dezember Reading Room was packed and did not have an empty seat. Many CSUB students and faculty joined together to watch the screening of this documentary film. This event was not just for CSUB staff, faculty, and students, it was free and open to the public.
“My husband is a stay at home father,” said Terezita Overduin, outreach librarian at CSUB. “When I ran across Dana Glazer’s film it was of personal interest to me and I thought to myself not only are faculty and staff parents, but a lot of students are parents as well and this is really a topic that will reach everyone, faculty, staff, students, and the community at large, on an academic and personal level. These are the types of events that we really want to be having at the CSUB library.”
“I am very interested in this film as it concerns the topic of fatherhood,” said Javier Contreras, a sophomore majoring in biology. “I am hoping to at least learn a little bit more about fatherhood from this film. I would like to see how fatherhood evolved from past fathers like my grandfathers to modern times, like my father.”
“The Evolution of Dad” opened with photos of people with their fathers, while voiceovers talked about who their fathers were, what “dad” means to them and the role in their lives.
Throughout the documentary, the audience is introduced to a multitude of fathers and grandfathers who have stepped into the fatherly role. These fathers felt the work and economical forces pulled them away from their home and families, while social and cultural forces pulled to have them at home.
Glazer hoped to find fathers who had dealt with these strains and found a way to balance work and family life while making a positive impact on their families.
By making this film, Glazer’s intent was to tear down the myth that fathers can’t stay at home and take care of children while mothers work and make the money for the family.
“Absentee fatherhood is an epidemic in our country,” Glazer said. “Work and family balance is a tough and difficult thing.”
Mia Lopez, a senior at CSUB majoring in sociology attended the documentary screening.
“Some people think that only wimpy, feminine men are stay at home fathers,” Lopez said. “Being a stay at home father is not something that is feminine. It shouldn’t really have a gender associated with it.”
