Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how single parents and their children constitute a rapidly growing population in America, a product of a high divorce rate and changing social mores. It further discusses how single-parent households were once the result of the father leaving and while this is still very much the case today, such families now also include more single fathers, unwed teenage mothers and other single parents, creating a new interest in this population.

From the Paper:

"Research also shows that single parent homes are more likely to be associated with criminal activity and that children from single-parent homes account for 72 percent of teenage murders (Tanner, 1995). Some single parent families are harder hit by economic change than others, and it has long been true that women and single mothers, and especially those from minority groups, have been hit the hardest by structural changes in the economy, such as the declining productivity growth and increasing global competition along with the disappearance of the manufacturing base. From the end of World War II to the 1960's, the U.S. led the world in the export of manufactured goods, but by 1970, West Germany had surpassed the U.S. in exports so that by the 1980's West Germany exceeded U.S. exports by 22%. Entire segments of the American manufacturing sector have declined or completely disappeared, with major losses in the manufacture of cameras, copiers, video recorders, audio equipment, machine tools, and steel. To remain competitive, many companies have had to restructure of downsize, and the loss of jobs involved has reduced the possible jobs for single mothers (Bowen, Desimone, & McKay, 1995). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Being a single parent (2006). MetLife, retrieved October 15, 2006 from http://www.metlife.com/Applications/Corporate/WPS/CDA/PageGenerator/0,1674,P988,00.html.
• Bowen, G.L., Desimone, L.M., & McKay, J.K. (1995). Poverty and the single-mother family: A macroeconomic perspective. Retrieved October 15, 2006 from http://www.hec.ohio-state.edu/famlife/bulletin/volume.1/bull14b.htm.
• Brief: Fathers care: A review of the literature (1999). National Center on Fathers and Families, retrieved October 14, 2006 from http://www.ncoff.gse.upenn.edu/litrev/fcbrief.htm.
• Chantrill, C. (2005, June 16). Fathers keep society safe. Www.roadtothemiddlelcass.com, retrieved October 15, 2006 from http://www.roadtothemiddleclass.com/opeds.php?road=134&title=Fathers+Keep+Society+Safe.
• Curphey, S. (2003, January 14). Lesbian, single-mother families still face hurdles. Women's eNews, retrieved October 15, 2006 from http://womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1181/.

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