Question

Which one of the following arguments can be used to support one of the most used reasons for children's retention of the father's name-preservation of the parent-child relationship? A. Either parent will maintain contact regardless of the child's last name. B. A system capable of dealing with name changes of divorced mothers ought to be able to deal as well with children's name changes. C. A bureaucratic convenience should not be set above preserving the parent- child relationship. D. A father is less likely to maintain contact with a child whose name differs from his own. E. A mother is less likely to maintain contact with a child whose name differs from her own.

Short answer

The argument that supports the most used reason for children's retention of the father's name for preserving the parent-child relationship is Statement D. This statement directly suggests that a father is more likely to maintain contact with a child having his name, thereby implying a preserved parent-child relationship.

Step-by-step solution

Analysis of Statement A

Statement A suggests that either parent will maintain contact with the child regardless of the child's last name. The last name does not impact the parent-child relationship according to this statement, and hence it does not specifically support the reason for children retaining their father's last name to preserve the parent-child relationship.

Analysis of Statement B

Statement B comments on the capabilities of a system that manages name changes post-divorce. This does not directly support the reason of name-preservation for the sake of the parent-child relationship. Instead, it talks about the logistical capabilities of coping with name changes.

Analysis of Statement C

Statement C emphasizes that a bureaucratic convenience (likely referring to the ease of paperwork and legalities with name retention) should not eclipse the importance of preserving the parent-child relationship. However, it doesn't specify the father's name retention as the means to preserve this relationship.

Analysis of Statement D

Statement D directly suggests that a father is less likely to maintain contact with a child whose name differs from his own. This implies that if a child retains their father's name, the father is more likely to maintain contact, thereby preserving the parent-child relationship, which directly supports the given reason for children's retention of the father's name.

Analysis of Statement E

Statement E suggests that a mother is less likely to maintain contact with a child whose name differs from her own. This is not directly supporting the father's name preservation as the means to keep the parent-child relationship.