Reply #14: Just As Anecdotes, Sir, Do Not Constitute A Scientific Survey

[The Magistrate]

Individual instances do not overthrow a general trend. Abandonment of children by mothers certainly occurs; abandonment of children by fathers occurs more frequently.

Further, it is pretty hard to deny that as a general case, mothers put more of their energy directly into rearing children than do fathers, and this is true even in households where the father takes an active role in rearing the children.

Your last point weighs less than you might think. There is nothing that could be properly cited as a body of respectable science and anthropology in support of either proposition you mention. There is such a body behind the assertions in this article, none of which are particularly new, though they are well marshalled and well expressed, and in a lively and entertaining manner that makes them seem fresh indeed.