Single Parenting In Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees

“If women knew how hard it is to be a single parent on a low income, they might think twice about having children.“ - Ariane Sherine (“It’s a Tough Job, but I’ve Got to Do It”) Single parenting can be considered a controversial topic expressed in a myriad of movies, TV shows, books, and magazines. A controversy because it has become something that is commonly seen as a social norm. Yet, it is still taboo to the point that those involved are often negatively judged for it. Statistically 41% of births are to single women (“The Single Mom Mess”). This social swing has awakened several dormant authors and screenwriters to use it as the basis of innumerable amounts of work. For example, in 1988 renowned author, Barbara Kingsolver published

It is set in rural Kentucky during the early 1980’s and follows a young woman named Marietta Greer (who later changes her name to Taylor). The novel juggles many different social issues through this character, but the most prominent one would be single parenting/lone motherhood. In The Bean Trees, author Barbara Kingsolver thoroughly expounds her opinion that single parenting is possible through the characters Taylor, Alice, and Lou Ann. The suggested prominent reason that single parenting is such a controversial concept is due to its financial impact. While a mass of single parents rise above the poverty line, more than 40% of single parent families are poverty stricken. (“The Single Mom Mess”). In The Bean Trees, Taylor becomes saddled with a young child whom she names Turtle because of her grip. At this point in the story, Taylor had just departed from home and barely had enough funds to take care of herself, let alone a socially inept infant. While a number of single parents defend their situation by claiming the idea as a staple of independence, the facts still ring true. In ⅖ of the lower-quintile households, 83% of the families are

They attempt to drudge on; sadly and often, becoming overloaded, stressed and feeling the failure. This is enhanced by feelings of guilt and self condemning thoughts that further aid the overwhelmedness leaving them feeling disloyal and full of remorse and regret. If only they could push their stress aside, it would likely aid in the ability to see a much simpler way to endure and persevere in their situation. Barbara Kingsolver endeavored to make it known that single parenting is possible. Not just possible, rather a beacon, to lend hope to the suggestion that their endeavors are an absolutely achievable success. She effectively, did so through the interactions between her representation of a dynamic duo. Two women easily relatable to the reader, Taylor Greer and Lou Ann Ruiz. In Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees, Taylor encounters a young woman by the name of Lou Ann Ruiz. Lou Ann had been deserted by her husband. Shortly before his abandonment, Lou Ann birthed his baby, a son named Dwayne Ray. In an effort to make the house seem less vacant and in many ways lessen the overwhelming and stressful load, Lou Ann heavily contemplated and eventually opened her doors to possible tenants. Taylor, dealing with her own stressful and overwhelming,