Single Mothers and Poverty

Paper Summary:

This paper defines and examines poverty in contemporary American society, particularly among single mothers. It discusses why single mothers often find themselves below the poverty line and examines the effects of this situation on them and their children. The paper then looks at structural changes in the American economy and the types of jobs that have been created by these changes.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Single Mothers and Poverty
Structural Changes in the American Economy
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Although it is clear that state benefits and menial work provides enough money to cover the most basic needs, single mothers and their children cannot live a productive and healthy life. As many studies have pointed out, women tend to identify themselves through their children, and often deprive themselves in order to give a better life to their children. Living in impoverished conditions, every aspect of their lives is affected by their situation. Not only having an extremely detrimental effect on their health, an important factor of poverty is the terrible social marginalization and isolation that many single mothers face. Social policy that does not attempt to diminish poverty and social exclusion significantly contributes to the mental, emotional, and physical ill health of mothers who are trying to raise their families on welfare."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Community Health Nurses Association of Canada (April 2000) Canadian Community Health Standards of Practice, Final Draft Report. Author.
• Corcoran, Mary, S.K. Danziger, A. Kalil and K.S Seefeldt (2000) How Welfare Reform is Affecting Women's Work, Annual Review of Sociology 26: 241-69.
• Falk Rafael A. Fox, J. Mildon B. O'Donnell, R. Position Statement on Public Health Nursing. Community Health Nurses. Initiatives Group of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.
• Gary L. Bowen, Laura M. Desimone, & Jennifer K. McKay (1995). Online Article: Poverty and the Single-Mother Family: A Macroeconomic Perspective. Information retrieved 09/15/2007.<http://www.hec.ohio-state.edu/famlife/bulletin/volume.1/bull14b.htm>
• Mary Ann Burg. Health Problems of Sheltered Homeless Women and Their Dependent Children. Journal Title: Health and Social Work. Volume: 19. Issue: 2. Publication Year: 1994. Page Number: 125+. COPYRIGHT 1994 National Association of Social Workers; COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group

More papers on Single Mothers and Poverty:

• Term Paper # 98264 : "Mothers and Poverty"
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• Article Review # 100294 : "Welfare among Single Mothers"

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