If that contention were true, how would you explain how most divorcing wives seek primary custody of the kids even when the father wants to raise them???
Lord Z: If that contention were true, how would you explain how most divorcing wives seek primary custody of the kids even when the father wants to raise them???
I can't explain it if both parents also work outside the home. However, in homes where the mother is the primary care giver before the divorce, full time care-giver is her career. Therfore relinquishing custody (even 50% of the time) would be analgous to asking the father to give up his career due to divorce. Also, I think women see themselves as the better care-giver because society hertofore has reinforced that view culturally. So it becomes a matter of "if you want things done right, do it yourself" kind of thing.
Mind you I'm not defending this view, just giving my theory as to why I think women are loathe to give up custody even 50% of the time. I think they should. In fact, I think they should insist on it. I fully support joint physical custody, but I would make it a strict 50/50 split unless the parties mutually agree to another plan. Even then, if disputes arise, I'd have the courts impose a 50/50 split in custody again. (I'm talking real custody, not play-acting parenting.)
It makes no sense to me why a woman would want to have sole custody and be "single mother" even with adequate child support.