Single Parenting - Essay Example

? Type Type Your Type 18 May Single Parenting What Is Single Parenting? The meaning of single parenting is vital in developing an opinion about this phenomenon. A single parent family might be described as a family living together in a home where only one parent is present. This family, obviously, has one or more children and either the parents or any one of them is responsible for the kid(s). This situation can be reached with divorce, separation or break up after the relation without marriage. Though single parent families started originating in the early 1950's, they were at their peak somewhere around the late 1980's and 1990's. The main cause of a complete family being broken down into a single parent family was the death of a partner. However, the trend changed, and the main cause turned towards the divorce between partners. It is this addition of several new causes, especially divorce, that the single parent family form is the fastest growing form of family in the North America. The first surprising fact about single parenting is that this phenomenon has been defined in two different ways. The following definition of single parents is distinct by only a single feature. Single parenting is a situation where the sole parent is responsible for the upbringing of the child. The sole parent does not receive any form of assistance from the other parent due to circumstances such as death, abandonment, etc. There can be several other reasons beside a few listed. According to this definition, some single parents might not be entitled to hold the status of being a single parent. However, as discussed earlier, the changing trend brought with it, changes in the causes of becoming a single parent. These difficulties, which have been established over time, make it tragically hard to take either side on this notion. However, once the facts are laid out, it will be easier to provide a verdict in an epitome. Facts about Single Parenting The trend towards single parenthood between 1990 - 2000 is one of the most interesting ones. The first half of this decade sees a rapid increase in single parent families. Statistical data show that during the first half of 1990's, single parent families were growing three times the rate of what two-parent families were growing. However, the second half of this decade saw a general decline in the rise of single parent families. The rise of single parent families that dominated the US culture for 4 decades, ended 1996 onwards (Statistics). Reports in 1960 suggested that only 9 percent of the total children’s' population in the US was living in single parent families. This rose to a staggering 25% in 1990 and to 28% in the year 2000 (Simmons and ’Neill). It is interesting to note how these changes came about in statistical terms. Three separate trends of the family culture can be identified. Between 1996 – 2000, the share of children living with a never married parent rose to 11.0 percent from 10.6 percent. However, this first trend was offset by the second trend. The percentage of children living with a divorced parent dropped to 15.6 percent from 17.3 percent. The third trend, children living with a widowed parent, maintained a constant percentage of 1.2 percent. These figures depict that the number of children living with a never married parent increased by 400,000 whereas the number of children living with a divorced parent decreased by 1 million (Statistics). The US Census from the year 2000 shows us that 12.2% of all households are female single parent households whereas 4.2% of all households are male single parent households. According to these statistics there are a total number of 17,294,115 single parent families in the US alone (Weiss). The trend in the United Kingdom has been similar. Over a quarter (26%) of the families in Britain are single parent families. In numbers, there are over 2 million parents in Britain today, though this number has remained more or less constant since the 1990's. In the UK, there are 3 million children living in single parent households whereas around 8 percent of single parents are fathers (Simmons and ’Neill). The increase in single parent households/families in the UK is quite similar to the increase in the US. In the year 1971, only 8 percent of families were single parent families. This percentage grew to 24 percent in the year 1998. However, as stated earlier, the late 1990's saw a changing trend in the UK also (Facts about Single Parenting). The percentage of single families in the year 2011 was 26 percent. A 2 percent increase since 1998 only (Statistics). Two Sides of the Coin Two definitions of one subject matter result in the formation of two groups, each with valid arguments to support their claims. So is the case with single parenting and single parents (Hare). Single parents, on one hand, are considered to be perfectly normal parents with the same rights and responsibilities as two parents were to have. Single parents and the generations of offspring that this phenomenon has brought about are considered as novel generations. Social welfare groups, feminist groups etc, have all contributed to this view about single parents. The myth that single parents are an aberration is denied any weightier in the modern day by numerous authorities. Moreover, another notion that single mothers are able to survive, or rather live in luxury, with the help of child support, has also been denied any existence by the presentation of factual figures (Engber and Klungness). The average amount of child support a single parent receives in the US is US $4,900. This amount signifies that the support received by single parents is no less than a futile support in the truest essence. The lack of support has driven numerous single parents to join America's workforce (Davidson 39-45). The average salary received by single parents according to the Census is US $28,000. Thus, the notion that single mothers/fathers lead lives of luxury thanks to child support money is quite logically false (Statistics). Another myth addressed by the supporters of single parent families is that teenage mothers are lethargic and neglectful of their children (Bumpass and Sweet 256-260). They reject this argument by presenting facts such as, many teenage mothers complete high school and often go on to graduate from a university. Their argument relies on the fact that being a single mother is extremely hard, especially, when the single mother is in her teenage. Teenage mothers face the dilemma of completing education and ensuring their child's safety and brought up at the same time. Types of Single Parenting As it happens, there are several different types of single parenting. All these types can be said to have emerged within the last century. 1. Widowed Single Parenting As the name suggests, this form of single parenting takes place when either of the two parents has passed away and left the other parent and the children behind. These single parenting situations are natural and are out of the control of mankind. This form of parenting used to constitute a large proportion of the single parent families in the US in the early 19th till the late 19th century. However, the 20th century brought about with a few changes. And this form of single parenting came close to extinction in the year 1989 when it formed less than only 7 percent of the total single parent segment in the US (Raley). 2. Divorced/Separated Single Parenting Again as the name suggests, this form of single parenting is the most common of them all and caused by primarily divorce. As per One Mediation, “Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, cancelling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties” (One Mediation). However, many couples resort to support plans made for both parents in question. These support plans carry the acknowledgement of both the parents that both of them will assist the other in the upbringing of the child or children. Single parenting situations that occur due to divorce form a large 60 percent of the total population of single parent families in the United States. 3. Never-Married single parenting This form is a much novel form of single parenting and is a product of the boom of single parenting that occurred in the early 1990's. People have now started to adopt kids as their single parents. Individuals, who do not want to marry or have children etc, have resorted to this form of single parenting. Thus, eliminating the concept of marriage altogether. This form of single parenting forms an astonishing 30 percent of the total population of single parents in the United States. This form of single parenting gave birth to another subset of this phenomena; adoption parenting. Adoption parenting includes those individuals who have never been married as well as have never given birth to a child due to their infertility or other reasons. One more myth that has eluded the society, in terms of those who have attacked this myth is that a single parent family is a broken home. Many scholars and sociologists have contributed to this matter against the myth. However, there are certain implications of a single parent family. Though single parent families are quite common in the US and UK now, the developing countries are also showing signs of single parenting situations at a rise. This sociocultural phenomenon has also spread through the ever-existing race system in current modern world. 33 percent single parents are African American, 33 percent are Hispanics, and 23 percent are Whites. Many writers have acknowledged the single parent family as an alternative form of family in the modern world. Due to the tragic incidents of death of a partner and the less tragic ones of divorce and separation, the trend is to not get married at all. A book, written in the year 1991, by Nancy E. Dowd, 'In Defense of Single-Parent Families', openly claims that the adoption single parenting trend is justifiable by every means. Considering the facts and several other statistics, it is safe to say that single parent families have shown considerable progress over the last 4 decades. However, the critical consequences brought about by the incorporation of such family systems are also haunting the modern day society. A few arguments against the system of single parent adoption are, 1. A child needs two parents so one can replace the other's responsibilities if one is ill. This argument has posed a serious question in the minds of those who have supported this form of family over the years. It is common sense that the brought up of the child requires immense efforts in all spheres of life. From earning to maintaining and educating the child, once all this pressure falls on one parent, there are chances that the child may be spoilt in one way or the other. 2. Another substantial argument posed to single parent family systems is that the single parent will have to work and earn and therefore, cannot serve to be an at-home parent. This certainly will affect the child as without the presence of any parent, the child will not be able to relate to the parent will loosen the bonds of a family. 3. Raising a child essentially requires the presence of both genders. This means that the presence of both the genders/parents while raising the child is important. For q kid to be competent to be related to the concepts of boy and girl, it is vital for the child to observe both the genders. 4. The death of the single parent will lead to the child becoming an orphan. This factor, obviously, is of ethical and social concern and can have some disastrous effects on the society as a whole while steps have been taken to reduce such instances by having complete records of the parent adopting the child. This enables them to contact the closest relatives, friends or other people from the parent's social circle in case of an emergency illness or death. Apart from the adoption single parent family form, there are other threats that have been posed to the remaining forms of single parent families. Poverty being one of the biggest menaces that affect the single parent family form. About 46 percent of children living in single parent families in the UK are below the poverty line. In contrast, only 24 percent of the children in coupled families are below the poverty line. Another interesting statistic shows that 43 percent of single parents are housing tenants compared to only 12 percent of coupled parents. From the financial point of view, single parent households constitute 31 percent of the total households that have arrears on household bills, mortgage or nonmortgage borrowing commitment. According to a survey recently conducted, 38 percent of the single parents said that money always runs out before the end of the week/month compared to 19 percent of coupled families. Most single parent families have no saving (63 percent) compared to that of coupled families (34 percent). The Verdict Single parent family forms are one of the most prevalent family forms in the modern day society. However, based on the facts and arguments discussed above, it is safe to say that some forms of single parent families can be considered acceptable and not a product of some other experiment. Single parent families that are born out of the death of a parent is rather the most justified form of single parent family. Another form of single parent family is the one which occurs after a divorce. However, the trend over the last 10 decades has shown us that divorce, which once used to be a tragic and bleak incident, has now turned into a norm. This norm of divorce and the creation of numerous single parent families have led to disaster on the social, moral, ethical and cultural levels. Such forms of the family have also brought about economic and political challenges of a global nature. Single parent families have faced troubles in numerous ways in the past, and these incidents of trouble have caused the shape of our society to change. The acceptance of such forms of the family is a mere representation of the acknowledgement towards divorce and the rarity of marriage. However, once these factors are kept in mind and thought about, it is quite evident that synthetic single parent families are indeed a catastrophic concept that has been circulating within the society. Though the origin of the concept can be traced back to feminism, media and certain other elements that have pre-existed single parent families, it is of due importance to signify that single parent families created by the death of a partner or divorce in some cases, are one of the most hard-working forms of family in our society. Works Cited Bumpass, Larry L and James A Sweet. "Children's Experience in Single-Parent Families: Implications of Cohabitation and Marital Transitions." Family Planning Perspectives 21.6 (1989): 256-260. Davidson, Pamela R. "Chapter 3: Diversity in Living Arrangements and Children's Economic Well-Being in Single-Mother Households." Arrighi, Barbara A and David J Maume. Child Poverty in America Today. Vol. I. United States: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007. 39-45. Engber, Andrea and Leah Klungness. The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns. United States: Congress, 1995. "Facts about Single Parenting." 2008. Parenting Boys . 18 May 2012 . Hare, Bill O. "The Rise — and Fall? — of Single-Parent Families." 2001. PRB. 18 May 2012 . One Mediation. 2009. 18 May 2012 . Raley, Kelly. "Redefining single-parent families: Cohabitation and changing family reality." Measuring and Modeling 32.1 (1995): 97-109. Simmons, Tavia and Grace O ’Neill. "Households and Families: 2000." September 2001. Census. 18 May 2012 . "Statistics." 2010. GingerBread. 12 May 2012 . Weiss, Robert S. "Growing Up a Little Faster: The Experience of Growing Up in a Single-Parent Household." Journal of Social Issues 35.4 (2010): 97-111. Read More