Why the School Parent Committee Does Not Protect the Rights of Fathers: Institutional Traps and Social Stereotypes The phenomenon of the unwritten ignoring of fathers' rights by the school parent committee is a symptom of a deeper systemic problem, not the result of personal bias among its members. The parent committee, being an informal but influential body within the school, operates within inherited social, gender, and administrative patterns that implicitly marginalize male parents. Its inability to become an instrument of protecting fathers' rights is due to several interrelated factors. 1. Demographic and Social Imbalance: The "Female Space" Parent committees are overwhelmingly composed of mothers. This is not a coincidence but a reflection of structural inequality in the distribution of parental responsibilities. Statistical fact: According to research, in Russia, women make up 90-95% of participants in school and pre-school committees. This creates a gender-homogeneous environment with its own rules, language, and priorities. Social expectation: Historically, school has been perceived as an extension of the "female," nurturing sphere. Activity in it is seen as an extension of the role of a mother-caregiver. A father who shows similar involvement is often seen as an exception, a "helper" to the mother, rather than an autonomous subject. Time resource: Unequal distribution of domestic labor leads to mothers (especially those working part-time or not working) having more flexible time for attending daytime meetings, fundraising, organizing events. Fathers, even those who want to participate, are often de facto excluded due to their work schedule. In such an environment, issues specific to fathers (such as conflict with the mother over access to school information, unfair treatment of a child by a teacher due to the stereotype of an "incomplete family") simply do not come into focus or are not perceived as significant. The committee deals with "general" ... Read more