Single parenting is becoming more common than the traditional nuclear families. Nuclear families are the basic structure of how families are and it has been seen as how every family should be. However, this structure is becoming less ordinary as single parents start becoming the norm. Although this situation is rising, many do not realize it. Single parenting is quite common, but it still struggles with income, abuse, and damaged relationships.
Single parent homes are becoming more common as time goes on. With this growing number, the traditional nuclear family seems to be less relevant. Welna reports that “[t]he portion of children living with a single parent has jumped over a generation from 1 out of 20 to about 1 out of 5 children” (1999, p. xii). Within a few decades, single parenting became very common among the modern society. This is a large shift and changes civilization. However, this difference it isn’t expressed very much. Television doesn’t show a lot of representation for
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Abuse can destroy the child’s future, making it challenging for the child to succeed. In McCammon’s article on the effects of single parenting, she declares that “[c]hildren who live with single mothers have a higher risk of experiencing abuse than those who live with single fathers “ (2013, para. 2 ). While mothers are seen more nurturing, if the child has contact when the father they often become angered, which creates an abusive relationship. Further into the article, she goes on to explain how “[f]amily structure is one of the factors that contribute to social problems; therefore, two-parent families play a significant role in promoting the social well-being of the society” (McCammon, 2013, para. 5). Coming from an abusive home can cause violent behavior, which can affect the crime rate. These actions can cause the rate to increase, thus harming society
Archives are filled with articles focused on the outcomes of children raised in single parent homes versus children raised in the nuclear family setting. The subject is highlighted in mass volumes throughout various internet blog forums, newspaper articles, and popular magazines detailing the statistical data and reputed points of view on the outcomes of the subject. Countless bloggers provide substantial personal testimonies highlighting both ends in the debate, while giving readers an inside-look at this situation from all different walks of life. Developing this issue into a broader context, we as the readers have to consider the magnitude of the issue and ask ourselves, “In concern with the betterment of my family, which lifestyle could I possibly adopt to ensure that my children are adequately socialized and prepped for life outside the parental structure?” However, this is not a question that requires a prognosis from a prominent sociologist; in fact, children raised in single parent families are just as capable at success as children raised in the traditional family setting.
Single families have become a common basic family shape within society meaning that there are more families with difficulties that have to be faced. These families can come from a family of divorced parents, the death of a parent, or parents who were never married. The difficulties confronted by single-parent families are fluctuated and numerous. Each family has their own unique challenges that they must endure and overcome during times of transition. They can incorporate changes in the level of family stress, adjustments in one's close to home and family personality, and significant modifications in how the family is overseen. Family administration can be extremely influenced by reduced or modified money related assets, changes in a parent's
Children being born out of wedlock have been increasing each year, making parents struggle with being a single parent. There are many effects having children outside of marriage and becoming a single-parent family. These effects include the relationships between family members, dating, and financial struggles. “Increasing numbers of children are being bom to unmarried parents, with nonmarital childbearing in 2005 representing 36.8 percent of U.S. births, or more than 1.5 million births, an increase of 12 percent over 2002 (Hohmann-Marriott).” Being a single parent is very stressful and is a huge impact in a person’s life.
Additionally, “The Effects of a Single Parent Home on a Child’s Behavior” by Marnie Kunz, “For every $100 of child support mothers receive, their children’s standardized test scores increase by ⅛ to 7/10 of a point” (Kunz, 1). “Living in poverty is stressful and can have many emotional effects on children, including low self-esteem, increased anger and frustration and an increased risk for violent behavior” (Kunz, 1). Welfare and child support has given single parents the ability to spare their children of their financial and relationship issues therefore, children are able to focus on their schoolwork on their personal lives without stress and interference. Also, several scholarships are available for all members of a single parent household. “Fortunately, there are a number of scholarships available to help children of single-parent homes attend college” (Kunz, 2). Poverty by Single Parent Houses no longer prevents children from entering college. Tragedies unfortunately, tend to repeat themselves. In the article titled “U.S. Single Parent Households”, it is said that “70% of gang members, high school dropouts, teen suicides, teen pregnancies and teen substance abusers come from single mother homes” (Ahlberg, 1). Teen pregnancies have been proven to be the root cause of the majority of children being born into
In the trajectory of humanity, single parenting has become a concept internationally accepted by most modern cultures. What exactly causes single parenthood? Well there are many factors in which could result in a single parent household. Death of a partner, divorce, and unintended pregnancy are just some of the causes of single parenthood. Based on this worldwide acknowledgement and understanding, single parenthood is usually aided by monetary help from the government or unions. Although financial help is available, the psychological effects a child goes through could never be fixed by any type of cash value. These psychological traumas and mental changes could affect the parent raising the child as well. Even with some financial help, single parents sometimes struggle to make ends meet. A study featured in Time magazine informed Americans that middle to lower class single parents will work 40+ hour weeks at minimum wage to provide for their child. If the parent is so busy at work, who's watching the child? Sometimes, the single parent might still have connection with their own families. Grandma and grandpa have to raise the child since the parent is hard at labor to provide for their offspring. Occasionally, some of our elderly folk do not have the competence to watch over a child. It might even be that the child is too energetic and could wear out the seniors. The child will then resort to the television, street, friends, etc to learn and grow. These influences might be negative for the child especially if they're not coming from the mother or father. An investigation of single parenting leads to the affirmation that raising a child by yourself is very difficult and must be approached very leniently and effectively.
“Ninety percent of single-parent families are headed by females. Not surprisingly, single mothers with dependent children have the highest rate of poverty across all demographic groups” (Olson & Banyard, 1993, p. 50-56). “Approximately 60 percent of U.S. children living in mother-only families are impoverished, compared with only 11 percent of two-parent families. The rate of poverty is even higher in African-American single-parent families, in which two out of every three children are poor” (Kirby, n.d., Single-parent Families in Poverty section, para.2).
Single parenting numbers increase each year. In America there is almost fourteen million single parents raising about thirty-two million children, twenty six percent are under twenty one years of age. Eighty-two percent of single parents are mothers and about eighteen percent are fathers (“Single Parent Statistics-Average Single Parent Statistics”).There are a lot of stereo types about single parents, most of which are untrue, but some can be true also. Single parenting is becoming more common in this generation, and it’s not just because of one reason. There are many reasons these days that there are single parents.
What is a single parent? Is it one who destroys their child’s life? Is it one who ultimately cannot raise a minor on their own? Or is it one who dedicates their lives to the well being of their kid? Imagine a parent, and for whatever reason they were left alone to raise a child. That parent you imagined has to work long hours just to put a meal on the table. That parent has to play the role of the mother and father. That parent has no financial support. Unfortunately, in our society, this image of a single parent is looked down upon. There are people that don’t realize how much a single parent goes through to give their child a better life.
The Family structure has changed significantly in the last fifty years. With higher percentages of marriage ending in divorce, and higher rates of childbearing out of wedlock, single parent families are increasing rapidly. “Seventy percent of all the children will spend all or part of their lives in a single-parent household.” (Dowd) Studies have shown that the children of these families are affected dramatically, both negatively and positively. Women head the majority of single- parent families and as a result, children experience many social problems from growing up without a father. Some of these problems include lack of financial support, and various emotional problems by not having a father around, which may contribute to problems later in life. At the same time, children of single-parent homes become more independent because they learn to take care of themselves, and rely on others to do things for them.
It has been said, children from two-parent families are better off. The setting is also a factor to take into consideration. The increase in single- parent homes has had an extensive and negative effect on children’s development. 50% of marriages end in divorce. We have young people with young minds having children, they can hardly take care of themselves at the age of 21, yet they have decided to bring four children into this world to be raised by one parent. In some communities, majority of the children are being raised by a single parent. Statistics have shown that children raised in a healthy single parent home have more problems emotionally, psychologically, in school, and with the law than those raised in healthy two-parent homes. No matter how good a single parent is, that a single parent can NEVER do for the child how two present, committed, parent partners share and work together; communicate together and solve problems together as equals.
As defined in the article “Single-Parent Families” on the International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family website, “Single-parent families are families where a parent lives with dependent children, either alone or in a larger household, without a spouse or partner” (Single Parent). Ever since the latter half of the twentieth century, there has been a rapid and drastic increase in the number of single-parent families both nationally and globally. It is shown in Mary Plunkett’s article “World’s 10 Most Divorced Nations” posted on the TheRichest website, that America is ranked 10th on the list of world’s most divorced nations with a 53% divorce rate (Plunket). Although other nations have higher divorce rates than the United States does, it is
Single parent households are becoming so common that is is expected. The amount of children living with their father has gone up but it is still pretty low compared to children living with their mothers. Which parent you are raised by is important. Each parent can only teach you what they learned. You mother can only teach you how to be a mother and your father can only teach you how to be ...
In this day and time it is common for children to be raised in a single parent households
In conclusion, single parenting families form a large and significant demographic. Both single parents and children face issues that have a serious impact on the development within the family unit itself and also how the individuals of such family units perform and develop socially. Much understanding is required.
Antonia M. Essien and Agapetus A. Bassey (2012) emphasized that the value of the traditional nuclear family structure of men, women and children is fast eroding, resulting in alternative family forms such as a single motherhood among others. In their opinion, single motherhood is a universal phenomenon and the reasons for single motherhood vary greatly across the nation, ranging from personal choices to involuntary circumstances. They further advocated that there is need for the entire society to focus more on the attitudinal change and social orientation towards single mothers.