Fatherhood Ought To Be Emphasized As Much As Motherhood - IELTS Task 2 Essay, Band 9 Samples

Achieve your dream score with our detailed IELTS eBooks - your complete guide!

Sample Essay 1

The idea that fatherhood should be equally emphasised as motherhood overlooks the distinct biological and emotional roles mothers play. While fathers are important, pregnancy, childbirth, and early childcare create demands that are unique to women. This essay argues that the irreplaceable maternal bond in a child’s early years, along with the risk of undervaluing mothers’ specialised contributions, makes equal emphasis on fatherhood both impractical and potentially harmful.

The maternal role is biologically and emotionally distinct, especially in a child's earliest years, and this irreplaceable bond should not be diluted by a push for artificial equality. From gestation to breastfeeding, mothers undergo physical and hormonal transformations that establish a natural attachment between them and their infants. Scientific studies in developmental psychology affirm that newborns are instinctively attuned to their mother’s voice, smell, and heartbeat—cues linked to prenatal familiarity. Attempting to equate this natural maternal bond with fatherhood not only overlooks this science but may also undermine the child’s emotional foundation in the early stages. While fathers can and should be nurturing figures, their involvement during infancy cannot mirror the mother’s unique physiological role. Therefore, equating these roles under the banner of fairness risks oversimplifying the nuanced emotional scaffolding that early child development requires.

Furthermore, advocating for identical parental responsibilities can inadvertently diminish the social, cultural, and practical value of motherhood. In many societies, particularly those where communal and extended family structures persist, mothers are recognised as central figures in moral and emotional guidance. Their role is not limited to basic care but includes transmitting values, fostering emotional intelligence, and shaping interpersonal dynamics. By insisting on symmetrical fatherhood, society risks devaluing these complex maternal contributions, reducing parenting to a checklist of shared tasks rather than recognising its deeper, often gender-influenced, layers. For example, Scandinavian countries with progressive paternity policies still find that many mothers voluntarily take on the majority of early childcare—not due to oppression, but personal and cultural choice. This illustrates that equality in opportunity does not always translate to equal division of roles.

In conclusion, while fathers play a meaningful part in a child's life, the idea that their role should be equally emphasised as motherhood fails to consider the biological, emotional, and cultural uniqueness of maternal care. Parenting is not merely about parity but about recognising the distinct, invaluable roles each parent contributes to a child’s growth.

Achieve your dream score with our detailed IELTS eBooks - your complete guide!

Sample Essay 2

The belief that childbearing and child-rearing are primarily women's responsibilities reinforces an outdated narrative that sidelines the role of fathers. I strongly agree that fatherhood should be emphasized just as much as motherhood, not only to promote gender equality but also to ensure balanced and effective child development. This essay will argue that excluding fathers from early parental responsibilities perpetuates unfair societal expectations and negatively impacts children's emotional growth.

Societal norms have long positioned women as the primary caregivers, placing the full burden of parenting on their shoulders. This often begins with the idea that women alone should decide whether or not to have children, implicitly assigning them the lifelong responsibility of child-rearing. Such assumptions ignore the fact that parenting is a joint endeavor, not a solitary task. When the father's role is diminished or overlooked, women are frequently left to balance full-time careers with the emotional and physical demands of motherhood—often without institutional support. For instance, in many countries, while maternity leave is a legal right, paternity leave is either limited or socially discouraged, reinforcing the idea that child-rearing is not a male responsibility. This imbalance creates long-term gender inequality in both domestic and professional spheres.

Moreover, research increasingly shows that children benefit profoundly from the active involvement of both parents. When fathers are engaged from the early stages of their child's life, children tend to develop stronger emotional regulation, higher academic achievement, and healthier social relationships. A child who sees their father participate in daily routines—feeding, bathing, helping with homework—internalizes the notion that caregiving is a shared duty, not defined by gender. Ignoring the role of fathers not only limits their emotional connection with their children but also deprives children of a broader support system. In cultures where fatherhood is emphasized, children often report feeling more secure, confident, and socially well-adjusted, highlighting the critical value of paternal presence.

In conclusion, the idea that only women are responsible for child-rearing is both outdated and harmful. Emphasizing fatherhood equally is essential for gender equality and for nurturing healthier, more balanced families. A child’s upbringing should never be a gendered duty—it is a shared human responsibility.

Achieve your dream score with our detailed IELTS eBooks - your complete guide!