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Brandon Wright Mrs. Sherman English 3 15 June 2012 What is single parent? A single parent refers to a parent, male or female, who constantly takes care of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of a child or children. Although most single parents are women, men also portray this role. In fact, statistics show approximately 84% of custodial parents are mothers, and16% of custodial parents are fathers. As a matter of fact, over the last three decades the number of single mo­­­­­­­­thers in theUnited States, who require government assistance, had steadily risen. As time proceeds, single mothers with multiple children, as well as teen mothers will also increase perpetuating the need for government assistance to support American families.­­­ During the 1950s the idle family consisted of a hardworking father, housewife mother, with several children living in the suburbs. There were very few single parents in the 50s. Throughout the 50s, single parenting was a scandal and single parents would be put to shame if condemn. During this decade, countless single mothers were sent to refuges, while others were pressured to give their baby up. There were little to no single fathers upon this time. On the other hand, this will all adjust in the next 50 years or so. Over the last 50 years, single parenting has changed drastically. Unlike in the 50s, single fathers became popular. For instance, single fathers are now being praised, since most become absent in their children’s life. Although some fathers might become intimidated or discouraged, now-a-days, that drives them even more to archive what’s right for their child or children. Alternative parents also applause single fathers for taking care of their responsibilities, especially single mothers. As a result of the “Baby Boom” in the 1950s, the number of single mothers has doubled. Single mothers are extremely common. In today’s world, without the help from the state, saying raising a child or children as a single mother is difficult is an understatement. Living as a single parent is extremely arduous and will only get harder as time proceeds. If there's a single group of people who are underappreciated more than any other group of people, it has to be single parents. There are approximately 13.7 million single parents in theUnited Statestoday, and those parents are responsible for raising 21.8 million children. (Coontz 1997) Most single parents come from single parenting homes. Furthermore, while everyone knows being a parent is difficult, being a single parent tends to be even harder. Not only do you have to play the roles of both parents, but you're financially responsible for a set of bills that are usually paid by two incomes. Single parents face many struggles during their everyday life. One of the most ordinary struggles for single parents is financial challenges. In fact, this might be the hardest encounter. Countless single parents have trouble paying their rent, or some of their other expensive bills. Similarly to the financial challenges, many singles parents run into complications receiving childcare opportunities. No parent wants to have an accident happen between their child or children and not have any childcare assistance. As I mentioned previously, childcare is expensive which corresponds with financial struggles. Another struggle single parents face, are the gender issues. Some single mothers might have trouble raising boys, where on the other hand, fathers might have problems raising girls. This isn’t always the case though. Single parents may feel lost and alone without out a spouse beside them helping with all the responsibilities. They might feel overwhelmed along with all the different set of priorities they face. Which leads these lonely men and women to another difficult task for single parents; introducing their children to someone they’re dating. Having an array of boyfriends, or girlfriends running in and out of your child's life isn't good for anyone. For the most part, single parents confront many intense struggles. Comparatively, single parenting also causes conflict to the child being raised. Statistics show that in traditional two-parent homes, children raised in single-parent homes are at a greater risk for a number of less desirable outcomes. Such outcomes include both lower academic performance and a higher incidence of behavioral problems. It would be a mistake to conclude, however, that such negative outcomes were the direct consequence of the number of parents in the home, but children are usually affected by circumstances that accompany with single parent family arrangements (Mauldin 1990). In single mother families, children tend to experience short and long term economic and psychological disadvantages; higher absentee rates at school, lower levels of education, higher dropout rates, more delinquent activity, including alcohol and drug addiction. The dilemma doesn’t stop when they’re a child, actually, later on when they become adults, they are more likely to marry early, have children early, and divorce (McLanahan 1994). The child may not show distress, but can still feel that way. Single parenting is a commodious distress on a child or children. Not only is being a single parent monumental, it is also arduous. Many single parents can not raise their children successfully on their own; they then search for state help. In the 1930s during the Great Depression, the government started the Welfare System. The Welfare system offered aid such as, Welfare payments, health care through Medicaid, food stamps, special payments for pregnant women, young mothers, and federal and state housing benefits. According to statistics, whites form the largest racial group on welfare; half of all welfare recipients leave in the first two years; and teenagers form less than 8 percent of all welfare mothers. Many single parents get criticized for receiving state help, when in reality; there isn’t anything wrong with it. Actually, 8 out of every 10 single parent on welfare, has a less difficult attempt on raising their children (Lynda Dickinson 1997). If you are unable to take care all your responsibilities on your own, the Welfare system is an abundant resolution. Many are surprised to learn that the peak of teenage pregnancy in the U.S.actually occurred in the 1950s, a decade known for its supposed conservative social values. Between then and now, the number of births per teenage has increased. Teenage pregnancies are so common in the U.S.that there are a couple of TV shows to help try prevent these pregnancies from occurring. The MTV shows //“16&Pregnant”// and //“Teen Mom”// is an attempt to prevent and display all the hardship of being a teen mom. In fact, after surveying 162 kids ranging in age from 10 to 19, the campaign found 82% of those who watch the show think it helps teens better understand the challenges of teen pregnancy and parenthood, compared to 15% who believe it glamorizes pregnancy (Robert Scheer 2004). If not all teen moms, most face similar struggles as older single mothers. Adolescent mothers face financial challenges since plentiful have no income. They also feel alone and abandoned if there’s no one to help. To say the least, teen pregnancy shouldn’t happen purposely, it’s extremely crucial and should be prevent if can. There was time in the not too distant past when single-parent families were relatively few, but in recent decades, there has been a dramatic increase in this type of family arrangement due mainly to increasing family problems. The reality is that most single parents are women and being a single mother is critical. A single parent has to juggle a host of responsibilities such as housework, finances, schooling and dealing with illness when it comes along. As a result, single parenthood can be a struggle. All in all, I encourage all future parents to attempt their hardest to not become a single parent.

** Works Cited ** "Single Parent Statistics." //About.com Single Parents//. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2012. . Single-Parent Families - The Effects On Children  “Single-Parent Families - The Well-being of Children Raised in Single-parent Homes”