The book Divorced Dads, Shattering the Myths explores popular stereotypes about divorced fathers and finds them diametrically opposed to the empirical evidence. 

Myth: Divorced dads are deadbeat dads. 

Reality: Representative studies show that the overwhelming majority of divorced dads, especially those who are employed and granted joint custody, pay all child support due. Faulty conclusions have been drawn from studies of poor families and estimates drawn from recipients’ memory (Chapter 2). 

Myth: Divorced dads are runaway dads. 

Reality: Most divorced dads continue a surprisingly high amount of contact with their children, while half of mothers admit to interfering with visitation to punish their ex-husbands (Chapter 3). 

Myth: Divorced fathers impoverish their former wives and children. 

Reality: Considering after-tax income, mothers’ and fathers’ post-divorce financial status is fairly similar. The few divorced mothers and children who do end up in poverty would almost without exception be in that state whether their ex-husbands paid full child support or not (Chapter 4). 

Myth: Divorce settlements tilt unfairly in favor of divorced fathers. 

Reality: Most divorced dads are significantly disadvantaged and dissatisfied compared to mothers, who feel more in control of the settlement process than fathers (Chapter 5). 

Myth: Divorced fathers have it easy emotionally after divorce; only their ex-wives and children are distressed. 

Reality: Most divorced dads are far more emotionally devastated by divorce than mothers. Only with respect to calming their anger more quickly than their ex-spouses do fathers have an emotional advantage over mothers (Chapter 6). 

Myth: Fathers initiate most of the family breakup, abandoning their families and their responsibilities. 

Reality: More than twice as many mothers initiate the termination of the marriage as fathers. This is a quite recent trend precipitated by cultural changes (Chapter 7). 

Source: Divorced dads, shattering the myths: the surprising truth about fathers, children, and divorce, by Sanford L. Braver, with Diane O’Connell. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York, NY, 1998.