Single-parent families are often stigmatized in our society because people make assumptions about them that aren’t true. Our society doesn’t expect much from single mothers or their children because they are viewed as incapable or problematic due to the stigmas and labels attached to their identity (McDaniel & Tepperman, 2015). Furthermore, single mothers are also seen as “harmful to society, uneducated, unmotivated, and on welfare or some form of public assistance”, but in reality, 80% of single mothers are employed (Harris, 2013, p. 387). Therefore, these statistics show that the stigma surrounding single mothers is untrue and that it is simply a stereotype enforced by our society. Although single-parent families involve many hardships such
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This can be seen in the first study, as single mothers struggle with putting food on the table and paying bills and in the second study discussed, where children can see the hardships of single motherhood and how it affects their mothers physically and mentally. Furthermore, the labels given to single mothers is unfair, because they aren’t lazy and their children aren’t all problematic. If society would give them a chance to change their labels, single-mothers would be seen in a new light. The stigma surrounding single mothers added with the everyday struggles they experience puts a lot of strain on single mothers and more should be done to help alleviate this stress. Free counseling and therapy should be offered to single mothers so that they don’t have to hold all their stress inside. Moreover, single mothers may often feel socially isolated and depressed and it is important that they have the time to integrate themselves into society and socialize so that their own needs are met. As mentioned by McDaniel and Tepperman (2015), “single parents need good quality daycare but more than half of single parent families have incomes below poverty line and cannot afford daycare” so if daycare prices dropped, a lot less stress would be on a single parent’s plate (p. 230). If there was more help that went towards assisting single mothers with their needs, excluding social welfare programs, the stigma surrounding single-parent families could disappear and the labels could
This can be seen in the first study, as single mothers struggle with putting food on the table and paying bills and in the second study discussed, where children can see the hardships of single motherhood and how it affects their mothers physically and mentally. Furthermore, the labels given to single mothers is unfair, because they aren’t lazy and their children aren’t all problematic. If society would give them a chance to change their labels, single-mothers would be seen in a new light. The stigma surrounding single mothers added with the everyday struggles they experience puts a lot of strain on single mothers and more should be done to help alleviate this stress. Free counseling and therapy should be offered to single mothers so that they don’t have to hold all their stress inside. Moreover, single mothers may often feel socially isolated and depressed and it is important that they have the time to integrate themselves into society and socialize so that their own needs are met. As mentioned by McDaniel and Tepperman (2015), “single parents need good quality daycare but more than half of single parent families have incomes below poverty line and cannot afford daycare” so if daycare prices dropped, a lot less stress would be on a single parent’s plate (p. 230). If there was more help that went towards assisting single mothers with their needs, excluding social welfare programs, the stigma surrounding single-parent families could disappear and the labels could