Men appear to be satisfied with this situation. In the past, the norm of reciprocity governed exchanges at the heart of the family, between the spouses. Tallies of respective deposits are made on a short-term basis. Secret defection is an ongoing process, of many facets. It allows for the supple circulation of gifts and debts, satisfactions and dissatisfactions of all sorts.
Secret defection allows one to voice a dissatisfaction without having to say anything.
Perpetuating old attitudes These attitudes help perpetuate mentalities that ensure that fathers are less inclined to assume certain parental and familial responsibilities. Paternity changes as parents age and as children grow up and leave the family nest. At each stage in the father's life cycle he must face new challenges. Middle age, for example, is characterized by complex family relationships that are further complicated by personal experiences and professional demands. The relationship between father and teenaged child can grow more strained because of the young person's need for greater autonomy.