In Ecuador, 71% of homes has a man as head

Today is Father’s Day and in the country there are 3,810,548 families in wich the man is the head of house, a total of 2,717,313 (71.3%) of cases. according to the 2010 census of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).

They are considered household heads because they are the economic support of their families. This compared to the 1,093,235 households with a woman as the head of the family. While 1,961,562 of household heads lives with their children (72%). Household heads prevail even among the young.

In addition, 78.2% of household heads, according to INEC, works as farmers, artisans, at salesmen and operators of facilities and machinery.

Although they are heads of most households in the country, the demands of parents in court are minimal. Figures from the Court of Guayas indicate that of the 19.355 lawsuits -filed between January 2, 2008 and June 11, 2013- for food, presumption of paternity, custody and parental rights, only 4% were handled by the fathers of the children, 95% of cases were raised by mothers and 1% by other relatives.

Even statistics show that most parents who are sued for custody of their children,  do it  to not pay the monthly allowance. In Guayaquil, according to the Court, between 2008 and last June, only 15% of claims for tenure ended in favor of the father. The majority, 80%, was ruled in favor of the mothers, and 5% were given to other family members.

With these figures, today, according to tradition, most homes in Ecuador will meet for lunch with parents and children together, sharing gifts, going walking with family and gatherings to strengthen ties.