Reply #1: Probably because we think of the mother as being the nurturer [View All]

Though, there are some studies that suggest it may be harder on kids to lose their father. The reasons being:

1. Widowed fathers are more apt to remarry
2. There is more apt to be a housekeeper, aunt, grandma, or neighbor that steps in as a surrogate mother.

The idea is that children who lose their mothers are more apt to have some woman in their lives to provide an adult female role model. This is less apt to happen for kids who need an adult male in their lives. The conclusion of the study I saw was that women are more willing to nuture other women's children; men are not as willing to nuture children who are not theirs.

I know this is a broad generalization and the conclusions are not true for every member of each sex. I also think a lot of this is cultural.