Abstract The paper shows that there has been much debate centered on the growing number of single parents raising children and how society tends to blame single parent homes for the majority of ills including drug abuse, violent crimes and juvenile delinquency. While there are some single parent households headed by men, the overwhelming majority of single parent homes are headed by women. The paper shows that this fact sparks another concern, since the average household income for the female single parent is a mere 24,000 per year, which depending on the size of the family could mean that many single parent households are living at or below the poverty rate. The paper questions that with the apparent negatives of being a child in a single parent household, is it a valid conclusion to say that on average, children of single parent households are worse of than their counterparts living in a two-parent household? This paper also discusses how children of single parents cope emotionally and how they fare academically relative to their peers.
From the Paper "They may also be more knowledgeable, cultured and well rounded if they have two sets of families to learn from and be loved by. These aspects may help them become more determined to succeed in their endeavors, teach them to become great leaders and valuable contributors to their families and to society. Single parent families are not economic bads, as a matter of fact, many of the worlds great leaders, visionaries, entertainers, politicians, TV personalities and others who make a valuable contribution to society every day are products of single parent homes."
Tags: fatherless, juvenile, delinquency, independence, responsibility, underage, sex
Abstract This paper discusses the Florida ban on gay adoption, as well as other legal and ethical aspects of same sex parenting. The paper explores the question of whether children brought up by gay parents are at a disadvantage in any way and uses professional research to back up the findings.
From the Paper "Despite the number of laws passed or the numerous movies or television shows that support gay rights, the negative conations associated with same-sex parent adoption continue to taint both attitudes and laws. Society is still laden with negative biases against homosexual adoption, and against gays in general (Johnson, et al., 1995) which severely limits their rights as people and as parents."
Abstract This paper explores the often misdiagnosed manifestation of bipolar disorder in youth. The paper addresses the misconception that "depression" only affects adults. It looks at the many symptoms of bipolar disorder in children which continues through adolescence. It explains that even though there is no cure for the disorder, there are several treatments available - these are discussed. The paper also lists the type of behavior attributed to a youth suffering from bipolar disorder.
From the Paper "As a brain disorder affecting of 1 to 2 percent of the general population, bipolar disorder is considered to be genetically transmitted. Other than "bad genes", there is no other known cause (Durand et al., 2000). The disorder itself is rooted in biochemical imbalances that occur within the central nervous system. Symptoms include extreme mood swings, rise or fall in activity levels, and erratic behavioral changes. Most children with this disorder will go from a nearly euphoric high mood (manic) to a deeply depressed pessimistic and sometimes even suicidal mood (Depressive)."
Abstract This paper explains that advertisers use outrageously risque advertising to get more attention, including the additional attention it might get when it has to be pulled from broadcasting. The author points out that the F.C.C. has developed rules to protect everyone from these controversial commercials; for example, commercials that are aired during programming for children are not allowed to exceed ten minutes per hour and obscene broadcasts are prohibited at all times. The paper relates that another problem is that advertising affects negatively the way adolescents view themselves because they feel they are not as pretty or as smart as the people depicted in the advertisements; therefore, children should be taught to be confident about who they are, not only on the outside, but more importantly, what is on the inside.
From the Paper "Given the amount of money spent on advertising, it would be reasonable to think that the advertisers would what to make an advertisement that could be aired on TV. When are the most people going to watch TV and see these ads? Yep, you guessed it, the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl has more viewers than any other television program all year long. Advertisers pay an estimated $2.4 million for a 30-second spot during the game. Millions of people saw the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake 'wardrobe malfunction' in the Super Bowl halftime show in 2004. That is what has changed the pace for most of TV. Because so many people complained, the FCC had to get really strict. They fined CBS $550,000 for that 'malfunction'. It offended people mainly because their children were watching."
Abstract This paper talks about the causes and effects of the increase in high school violence in the last few years. An argument for emphasis on younger education. The author includes examples and statistics of school violence studies and a few proposed solutions to school violence.
From the Paper "Since the April 20,1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, school violence has been getting a substantial amount of attention, especially compared to ten years ago. The number of extremely violent crimes committed by students has been increasing in the last few years. These incidents are not only increasing in number, but in the amount of bloodshed in each occurrence. Some experts seek to analyze the effects of this violence, while others attempt to pinpoint the causes, figuring them to be everything from parental violence to "shoot to kill" video games. There are many solutions that must be put together in order to help solve this urgent problem."
Abstract This paper looks at the ethical question of spanking children as a method of discipline, by comparing it with other methods of disciplining. The author contends that helping your child to handle his own frustration and anger calmly helps him feel good about himself.
From the Paper "In a recent survey by the AAP they were divided in their opinion. Of parents surveyed 80% admitted they spanked. Only 10% felt spanking was a good method of discipline. The other 70% regretted wanted to find other methods. Controlled spanking is not child abuse, but it can lead to abuse if the parent is angry, frustrated, and out of control.According to Black's Law Dictionary, child abuse is, "An intentional or neglectful physical or emotional injury imposed on a child, including sexual molestation." As for battery, it is "The application of force to another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact." Most spanking incidents, therefore, do not in any way fall under the definition of child abuse."
Abstract This paper shows how the single-parent family has struggled through American history and why the statistics are showing that their style of living is on the rise. It gives specific examples of single-parent black families with woman or men as the head of the household, and it also offers lots of statistics pulled from reliable research as to why these kinds of families are multiplying in our society. It also discusses in some detail the huge effect of poverty on these families even though the statistics poorly depict their lifestyles, and discusses the solution.
From the Paper "Eighty-four percent of all black children will live in a single-parent family before they are eighteen years old (Clegg). Currently, in the black community, the birthrate of out-of-wedlock babies is sixty-nine percent, while in the white community, the statistics are edging toward twenty-five percent (Rector). Do these facts sound alarming to you? Is there something about the white community that is different from the black community? To the modern world, being a single, black parent and raising a child is not very uncommon ? not to mention simply being a single-parent to begin with. We as a society like to believe that there really is no difference between black and white ? that we are all equal. This may be the case, but there are still some aspects of our daily lives where black and white can be very different. The issue of race and single-parent families has been the subject of enormous controversy. The extended black family, often considered a source of strength and stability, has declined steadily since 1940, as has the white extended family. A disproportionate number of black children have been raised by single parents, a trend that can lead to family instability, poverty and welfare use. As we look at some alarming statistics, we see that the black community has indeed seen a rise in the numbers of single-parent families. The rise of single-parent families in the black community has a great impact on the lives of those children involved and also on the community around them. In the following paper, I will share with you some of the statistics that I have come across during my research on this topic, and I will also include insight on its impact on society."
Abstract This essay discusses the growing popularity and influence of tattoos in American culture over the past century. It dates back to the tattoos debut in America through the military in the late 1800's and then becoming a part of our circuses in the 1900?s. This paper discusses how certain groups like feminists and sailors came to use tattoos and their variety of purposes from artistic impressions to story telling. It also discusses America's tolerance and acceptance for tattoos among the classes and genders throughout time and how this has changed. Tattooing is an art adopted by American society over 100 hundred years ago and is deeply rooted now in our culture as it has allowed us to examine and display portions of other cultures.
From the Paper "The reasons and motives behind getting a tattoo are as varied as the designs one can create. In days past, some of the reasons may have been to show one's patriotism to his country, to show love and respect for another person or organization, to remember past events or record the places one has visited, or even to rebel against something. Today, the reasons for tattooing still include the previously mentioned points, but have expanded to include exploring other cultures, expressing ones individuality, and simply for artistic reasons. Tattooing is an important part of the "American culture" because the designs many people create draw upon so many different cultures around the globe. The American tattoo, in a sense, is like a melting pot of designs, just like America is the melting pot for all of the different cultures."
Abstract A personal paper about television violence. The author offers a descriptive account of television violence in the past and how violence is portrayed today relating the effects that this has on society. The author argues that parental guidance relies too heavily on society to raise their children, leaving their children to be exposed to violence.
From the Paper "Over the last twenty years people have changed their views on violence. It is no longer possible to surprise viewers with graphic images or explosions because they are too familiar. Overall, TV has the same amount of violence it is just more powerful and realistic. It is also all relative to the time, twenty years ago it took less to upset the public, so violence was used sparingly, now we are numb to it and we must be overexposed to get the same effect. As far as the relation of TV violence to the sadistic manifestations of current day fanatical children, I believe there aren"t any; all the TV shows do is give them a scapegoat. Rather than viewing their actions as being a product of society, it is my opinion that blame should be cast upon the parents, who don"t build firm relationships with their children in the short amount of time they spend with them. They rely on society to raise their children, and don?t even inform them on the proper ethics and morals needed to deal with the conflicts portrayed on TV. So when children are faced with a problem, they resolve it the only way they know how, violence."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed examination of the prevalence and adverse effects of child exposure to domestic violence. The author looks at the potential risks that expose children to domestic violence such as poverty and single parents. In addition, the author looks at the various effects of domestic violence on children's lives, such as the development of certain phobias. The above is done with the aid of four articles concerning the adverse effects of physical and verbal abuse on children and subsequent developmental problems.
From the Paper "Each year, approximately 3 million children are victims of domestic violence (Osofsky, 1999). Black, Heyman, & Smith Slep (2000) identified potential risks, such as poverty and single parent households, for child physical abuse and parent to child verbal aggression. Verbal and physical aggression were also found to cause the development of specific phobias in children (Magee, 1999). Fantuzzo and Mohr (1999) looked at the prevalence of domestic violence and the adverse effects it produces on children, and Osofsy (1999) examined the effects of violence on children and their development. Each article approaches the issue of domestic violence and children from a different perspective, but they all identify negative effects on the children. More research needs to be done to determine effective ways to prevent domestic violence from happening in the first place, because once a child has witnessed or been a victim of domestic violence, the damage is already done. In collecting and studying all of these articles, it was apparent that there is a direct correlation between domestic violence and negative repercussions on children. By gathering this evidence, it became evident that there needs to be a much greater emphasis on prevention of verbal and physical aggression in the home and that more research must be done in this area in order to establish any effective prevention methods."
Abstract It is the argument of this paper that justification for the notification of communities to the presence of sex offenders far outweighs any counter argument. People should most definitely be notified of sex offenders in their neighborhoods. This notification should not only be attempted but should be aggressively pursued to assure total coverage.
From the Paper "To hear on the news of a brutal rape and murder of a small child somewhere across the country is disturbing enough. To hear of such an outrage in your own neighborhood can bring, fear provoking agony. Imagine the reaction of the mother of 7 year old Megan Kanka when she found out that the man who lived across the street and murdered her daughter had two previous convictions as a sex offender. Why hadn"t she been informed" The perpetrator had paid his debt to society and had his right to privacy. But what about Megan's right to life? What about her right to an innocent childhood free of the horrors of sexual molestation? A value judgement must be made on this issue. Protecting the life of an innocent child must be valued more highly than the privacy rights of a convicted felon. People have not only a right to be notified of sexual offenders living in their neighborhoods, but they have a right to demand that officials make an aggressive effort to notify them. The nation as a whole overwhelming seems ready to make this judgement."
Abstract A persuasive speech essay on why it is important to tell your loved one you love them every time before they go to bed or before you leave them, because you never know if it will be the last time you see them alive. The paper uses the tragic events of September 11th to reiterate the importance of this act.
From the Paper "September 11th changed all of us. Although we?ve endured numerous tragedies during the last few years, such as school shootings and the Oklahoma bombing, watching the events of last September unfold before our eyes on television hit our hearts like never before. We listened to family members of victims as they told their stories of loss. And again and again we heard how their loved ones trapped in the World Trade Towers or on the fatal flights that crashed in Pennsylvania and into the Pentagon had called them on office phones or cell phones to say "I love you" one last time. And again and again we heard about the comfort it brought to them."
Abstract Many factors have been linked to domestic violence, including family modeling, culture and substance abuse. This paper provides an overview of several of these factors. It shows how alcohol and substance abuse are directly linked to spousal and child abuse and how this problem is carried to the next generation. The paper also examines the social learning theory which contends that boys who witnessed violence towards their mothers by their fathers are more likely to beat their own partners. Finally, the paper looks at the link between ethnic groups and domestic violence.
From the Paper "One of the factors that has often been cited as leading to a propensity toward domestic violence as an adult is being the victim of violence as a child. The research on this seems to be ambiguous, however, with some studies showing a clear association and other studies indicated limited support for that theory. For example, Simons et al. (1995) explored four different sets of data in a study of Midwestern families and found only limited support for the idea that children who were subject to severe physical discipline were likely to be violent toward their spouses and children. On the other hand, Doumas et al. (1994) found association between both early child abuse and witnessing marital aggression and later adult domestic violence."
Abstract This paper explores and defines the basic components of Structural Family Therapy according to Salvador Minuchin, author of "Families and Family Therapy". Literary reviews and critiques of Minuchin's book and model for family therapy are also discussed.
From the Paper "Times have changed, for the good, in the view Minuchin expresses in Psychology Today (Minuchin, 1993). He saw a sign that Americans are no longer stigmatized by "family therapy" through the election of the Bill Clinton / Al Gore administration in 1992. ?At the Democratic Convention, Vice President Gore said that his family was in family therapy without fear or concern that such a statement reflects a deficit, that something is missing.? Of course, the Clinton Administration's scandals made better headlines and fodder for gossip than the positive things accomplished in those years, and yet Minuchin was correct in saying that barriers and stigmas regarding "family therapy" have been broken down, and that, along with the proven family solutions found within SFT, is a very good thing."
Abstract This paper examines the rise of juvenile delinquency, including the factors responsible for the high rise in crime, and suggests steps by which it can be curbed. It discusses how juvenile crime is a major problem for people nowadays, how young children have resorted to acts of brutality and violence, and even acts of rape, assault, robbery, and homicide. It shows how the rates of juvenile crime have been fluctuating throughout the years and how the U.S. government has not done much to counter this problem.
Outline
What is Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Crime
Reasons for Juvenile Crime
Family Life
Poverty Line, Discrimination, Lack of Opportunities
Media Factor
Drug Use
From the Paper "Drug usage and substance abuse are one of the strongest factors contributing to juvenile violence. Juvenile delinquents get hooked to drugs or alcohol from an early age. These drugs are easily available to them at their hangout places. Drug usage among delinquents had taken a sharp decline in the earlier years but now the usage has increased drastically. Drug use affects the person as it ruins his/her perception. It enables the person to resort to things they haven?t done before. Due to dependence on drugs a lot of juveniles commit crimes as they need a constant flow of cash to support their habit. This can propel into a very dangerous situation as it can lead to violent crimes such as murders or armed robbery."
