To ask the question of the difference between father and father is, basically, to ask what it really means to be a father. Vast question which would have its place on the subject of the philosophy of the bac. Response elements.

The Larousse gives several definitions of the word “father”: “Man having fathered or adopted one or more children: Father who gives the bottle to his baby; Man who acts as a father: He was a father to his godson; Law: man having authority to raise one, children within the family unit, whether or not he has fathered them. “

The progenitor is defined as “the physiological father (as opposed to the legal father). »He donates his sperm or makes the child with his partner. He is thus the biological ascendant of the child. He gives life, which is not nothing.

But beyond the transmission of genes, being a father means getting involved, protecting, educating, playing an important role in the life of your child. The father is the one who cares about the mental and physical well-being of his child, of what will become of him. He is the one who takes his responsibilities. He is the one who tells stories, who helps with homework, who consoles the big sorrows and shares the joys of everyday life… He is the one who simply loves.

Children often know how to make a difference, and will call “my father” the one who has never really taken care of them … A choice of relevant vocabulary, to underline the desire for detachment from a man who cares for them. will have caused pain. Conversely, a stepfather who raised them with a lot of love, who did everything to make them happy and fulfilled people, even if he is not perfect, can be seen as a real one. father. Likewise, a man who has adopted and loved his child as if he had given him life, naturally calls himself “dad”. The word then symbolizes the whole emotional bond.

Very often, father and parent are the same person. But sometimes that is not the case. For example, in the case of adopted children or when the mother receives a sperm donation because her partner is infertile. It is the latter who will obviously be considered as the father, the sperm donor being the progenitor.

It can also be done to prevent the transmission of a serious illness to the child. In France, the donation is also anonymous, both for the recipient couple and for the donor. The procedure must be carried out in the hospital, in a center for the study and conservation of eggs and sperm (Cecos). “His anonymous medical file (notably mentioning his medical history, the number of children resulting from the donation, the date of the samples and his written consent) will be kept for a minimum of 40 years”, we can read on service-public.fr. But a sperm donor will not have contact with the child resulting from the donation.

The National Assembly again voted on June 8, 2021 to open the assisted reproduction system to all women, that is to say to single women and homosexual couples.

The flagship measure of the bioethics bill should be adopted definitively on June 29. Until now, Medically Assisted Reproduction was reserved exclusively for heterosexual couples. Extended to lesbian couples and single women, it will be reimbursed by Social Security.

Opponents denounce the creation of “fatherless orphans”. Beyond the debates, this law marks an evolution of the question of filiation with, in these couples, two parents of the same sex. Surrogacy (Surrogacy) remains prohibited in France. Male couples who wish to use it must travel abroad for it.

Recognize a child with whom you have no biological connection? It’s possible. But for this link to be recognized, it is not enough to simply claim it, it is also necessary to provide proof. Notably :

• the alleged parent and the child behaved as such in reality (effective family life);
• the alleged parent has financed all or part of the education and maintenance of the child;
• the company, the family, the administrations recognize the child as that of the alleged parent ”, details the Ministry of Justice on service-public.fr.

“This filiation can be contested later (by the mother, for example) and possibly be the subject of damages with regard to the child. The person who chooses to contest would have to provide proof that the author of the acknowledgment is not the father. “Warning: recognizing a child for the sole purpose of obtaining a residence permit or French nationality is punishable by 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine of € 15.000. “