Should Father's Day be renamed as Father Figure's Day? Writer Stefanie Preissner believes it should.
This Sunday marks Father's Day 2021 in Ireland, with sons and daughters across the country picking up gifts and cards for their dad.
However, recent years have seen some commentators call for the day to get a bit of a rebrand to Father Figure's Day.
Those in favour of it believe it would be a much more inclusive title, and allow those who don't have a father to celebrate the other men who've had a positive influence.
Stefanie Preissner - columnist and screenwriter - told Newstalk Breakfast this absolutely wouldn't be about getting rid of Father's Day altogether.
She said: “I don’t want to get rid of Father’s Day - I want to just expand it a bit. It’s still Father’s Day, but we just put the word ‘Figures’ in there so those of us who don’t have dads can get involved.
“I think Mother Figure’s Day is also something that needs to be [considered]. I just think the world could be a little more inclusive."
Stefanie suggested that it's currently considered weird or strange in society to acknowledge somebody who isn't actually your dad.
She said: "If that was normalised, there are plenty of people I’d love to give cards to if it was Father Figure’s Day.
“I’m not here to take Father’s Day away from anyone - I think it’s really, really fabulous. Showing gratitude to people who love you and do things for you is always lovely."
She pointed to her own experience in life, including once having to make a Father's Day card in school "for a father that didn't exist".
She said: "There are plenty of times I’ve gotten my needs met elsewhere - whether it’s from a friend’s dad who I went to for advice, or my uncle when I was growing up.
“It’s kind of weird on Father’s Day to acknowledge someone who isn’t actually your dad. If that was normalised, there are plenty of people I’d love to give cards to if it was Father Figure’s Day.
“I did see a card once that said ‘you’re like a father to me’... but the cart can’t come before the horse.”
