The Figures of Lone Parents - Essay Example

Introduction Ever since the end of World War II the percentage of families and households which are run by a single parent has increased significantly in the UK, the number of lone parents in the UK is higher than in many of other European nations. The increase in numbers of lone parenthood in the recent past has been amongst the most remarkable social and demographic trends in the past 25 years. The increasing social recognition of separating sex; marriage as well as parenthood, has produced a circumstances whereby lone parenthood in the society is more and more becoming to be viewed as another phase in the continuous family life cycle, instead of deviation from “ordinary” family models. It is not only in the UK, but all through the western developed countries, a lot more different models of family arrangement are budding with extra intricate binds of family support, love, exchange, responsibility and commitment. (One Parent Families, 2005) Lone parenthood issue Lone parenthood has been the most observable visage of these latest family models, in the views of several people; lone parenthood is as well the most challenging. The “challenge” brought by lone parenthood can be defined in different ways: A Social problem; many see Lone parenthood as an essentially second-class and unsatisfactory family style, indicating the selfish options of grown-ups against the concerns of their children. An economic problem; Lone parenthood creates increased amounts of public spending, most evidently in relation to social security spending. This expense has risen four times in the past ten years and as at 1995/6 it stood at roughly £10 billion. A poverty problem; Lone-parent households have a extremely higher threat of poverty and such parents stay poor over a longer time than other couples families. These different definitions of the challenges or problems associated with lone parenthood have lead to difficulties in formulating policies and to address the issue. This part will try and highlight in details the aspect of lone parenthood as a social problem in the society. (Cree, 2000) The figures of lone parents To understand the impact of lone parenthood it is good to view the figures which have been increasing over time. In the 1970s the numbers of lone parents were only about a half a million, this number grew to about one million in the early 1980s. This was largely because of increased number of divorces cases. However, in throughout 1980s the number increased moderately. But, in the 1990s the number again increased rapidly to a figure of 1.7 million as at 1995. At the moment the figures are estimated to be at 2.5 millions, the number of these lone parents is estimated to be about 4.2 million. This truly is a huge number which leads to social implications. (Mackay, 2005) There are mainly two ways of entrance into lone parenthood; relationship collapse and the delivery of a baby outside the marriage. Similarly there are as well two key ways out: re-partnership of couples and kids growing up and becoming adults. every lone parent eventually stop being lone parents as their own children grows up, however re-partnership has become less well-liked and so way out numbers from lone parenthood have been falling. (Mackay, 2005) Social problem; poverty and negative social behavioural Studies indicate that, families with lone parents are at a high possibility of experiencing poverty than those families which are coupled and, averagely single mothers are known to have poorer health conditions compared to couple mothers. Single parenting has also been strongly related with increased danger of several negative social, emotional and behavioural outcomes particularly to children. Though whereas the relationship is strong among children and single parents, the number of children affected and the actual numbers is estimated to be modest. A high number of children with single parent do well in their social life. Nonetheless, lots of factors have different influence on how kids grow in lone-parent families, this includes, the age of parent, level of education, and occupation of the lone parent; the parent's earnings; and the parent's support, association of friends as well as extended family members of single parents. Drawbacks in these issues which often go with single parenting seem to be the cause of most of this relationships and not single parenting in itself. (Mackay, 2005) A range of views exists, with diverse studies possible. Institute for the Study of Civil Society reported that kids of a single parent, subsequent to controlling other variables such as family earnings, are highly probable to have difficulties (Millar & Ridge, 2001) Studies show that there are several impacts of single parenting on kids, nevertheless the credence of the proof do not seem to sustain a viewpoint that lone parenting is a key source of society problems and that they are doing irreversible harm to their own children. Negative aspects of lone parenthood in the society A mixed image appears when analyzing the lone parent’s quality of life and their children, negative aspects of lone parenthood includes; Increased poverty, arrears and material destitution, Lone parents expend nearly as same on their children just like married parents while trying to shield their kids from poverty through spending a smaller amount on themselves, Lone parents on Income Support have been known to be the most individually deprived as well as the most strained by their economic conditions. Lone parenthood leads to lacking a partner share decisions making with, talk to or discuss with, which leads to a weighty burden of duty. A restricted social network, which means lone parents at times feel being uncomfortable for being not able to return kindness and support given to them. (Mackay, 2005) Social emotions Lone parents many times are known to undergo through some emotions for example loneliness as well as isolation. At the same time these emotions coupled by frustration of lone parenthood can lead to stress and increase anxiety levels amongst them. This can end up being too much to these lone parents and as a result lead them to harm their loved ones. If these lone do not seek professional assistance, this can lead to emotional meltdown. Thus, the lone parents’ emotional behaviour can badly affect the society. Lone parent and poverty There is a general agreement that lone parenthood and poverty often accompanied by it is many times related to social exclusion. Since teenage childbearing before marriage is a one of the major way of getting to lone parenthood, these teenagers in many times are excluded from the society by their parents, friends or relatives. This usually compounds the problem that they have already had. (Baldock, et al 2007) Employment According to studies carried out, it was found out that about 52% of lone parents were not economically active. This number comprised those lone parents who were taking care of their family or home, and those lone parents who were disabled or sick. According to this study it showed that among those who were economically active, 13% were not employed. This indicates the about 65% of all lone parents experience poverty contrasted to about 30% in other families set-up. It is shown that lone parents have got the highest danger of poverty than other types of families. In addition the age also matters in this aspect and the youngest lone parents are bound to experience higher poverty levels than older lone parents. In many cases the lone parents have a perception of poverty which is related to their capability of their earnings, thus the issue of poverty may be relative than real, where by perceptions of the lone parents or the society may increase the levels of poverty. (Baldock, et al 2007) Child necessity The higher percentage of poverty levels among the lone parents affects the child necessities given to their children. These necessities include; food, clothing, development, social activities and environment. It has been observed that many lone parent households lacked at least an item in these main necessities. In many cases food has been a challenge to a lot of lone parents to their children. At the end such children welfare affects the society as a whole thus becoming a social issue which has to be addressed by the whole society. (Millar & Ridge, 2001) Part B: The Social Policies There are numerous strong general supports which encourage and enables the lone parents to be able to work. The government have enacted and/or proposed a number of policies to tackle this issue. We shall examine only two of these measures; Child care The government has made important progress in provision of support to childcare services. The childcare Act of 2006, places a lawful responsibility on the local authorities in the UK to secure enough childcare to address the requirements of the local communities, particularly for those parents who have low income and with disabled children. This responsibility will be affected in April this year. After which proposed new duties for lone parents will be affected. For those lone parents who require childcare, these services are increasingly becoming available. (Baldock, et al 2007) Child care was proposed to surmount the disadvantages inbuilt in the court-based arrangement. Nonetheless, in the years ever since Child Support Agency started to function, there hasn’t been a raise in the percentage of lone parents getting child support; the percentage has remained about one lone parent in three, more so the policy has generated several new problems and difficulties: The formula for child care is intricate, seen to be very rigid, and some aspects are extremely unpopular. Losing of unofficial assistance from the not present parent as an end result of the official evaluation is felt intensely by several lone parents as well as children; in addition it is not rewarded by enlarged financial returns when the family already is receiving Income Support. The requisite to disclose the not present parent didn’t cause the lone mothers predicaments in the initial phases of operation however it appears that more and more, lone mothers have been required to oblige in unsuitable situations, at times when dealing with the danger or actuality of violence against them. Past the Child Support Act Most significantly there are limitations to what every Child Support Agency can ever realize. Marital break-ups happen disproportionately amongst less prosperous parents whose salaries pre-divided, leave alone post-divided, might not be sufficient to sustain a family. Still even those parents who have sound incomes cannot generally sustain two families at a sufficient standard at the same moment. Child Support Agency possibly cannot raise the resources offered to these lone parents families. (Baldock, et al 2007) Family Credit Half the number of lone parents working claims for Family Credit; the means-tested assistance allocated to low-earnings employed families, and this assistance has been fundamental to latest policy. Family Credit has two major objectives: to promote paid work through offering a financial inducement; and to maintain low-paid employed families beyond poverty levels. Family Credit measures have had several successes on both accounts. It does offer a financial inducement to work. And it has got a comparatively simple arrangement and also there is modest stigma which is attached to making clams. Lone parents having experience of the two benefits favour family credit to income support program. Family credit claims is mainly taken by those lone parents who require it, raises them from the worst impacts of poverty and offers a guaranteed essential earnings for a period of six months, prior to eligibility being re-assessed. This program faction even following controlling for some other vital indicators of the labour market drawbacks, for example, housing occupancy, previous marital status, schooling/training and the family health. (Baldock, et al 2007) Nonetheless, there are limits to family credit. One, it merely assists a sixth of lone parents to get work. The majority stay on income support program. Two, family credit is not able in itself to assist lone parents advance their labour marketplace standing and conquer the numerous barricades to work that lone parents encounter. Past Family Credit Mooney (2004) observes that, the barricades to get work for the lone parents are difficult. They comprise the employers attitudes; the business of work; shortage of jobs opportunities; lack of expertise; existing adversities and the restraints that they enforce; lacking access to the childcare, both official and unofficial; absence self-assurance as well as work experience; and the intricacy of the assistance system, specifically in relation to getting from out-of-work to in-work assistances besides adjustments in maintenance disbursements. Any particular policy proposed to raise employment rates have to start by addressing this intricate mix of aspects. (Mooney, 2004) Conclusions The increase in numbers of lone parenthood in the recent past has been amongst the social issues raising concerns among the policy makers in the UK. Studies indicate that, families with lone parents are at a high possibility of experiencing social problems than those with two parents. This being a social issue it becomes a little difficult to handle it effectively; however, the government has formulated different policies to deal with the issue. Among the policies formulated are child care act and family credit which are assisted the lone parents manage their conditions. Reference: Baldock J, Manning M, Vickerstaff S (2007): Social Policy; 3rd edition Oxford: Oxford University Press Cree, V (2000): Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers London: Routledge Mackay, R (2005): The impact of family structure and family change on child outcomes: a personal reading of the research literature; Social Policy Journal of UK Millar, J and Ridge, T (2001): Families, Poverty, Work and Care: A review of literature on lone parents and low income couple families; (DWP Research Report No.153) Mooney G (2004): Work: Personal Lives and Social Policy Bristol: (Ed) The Policy Press, One Parent Families (2005): One Parent Families Today: The Facts; London Read More