Single Mothers In Poverty

The Plight of Single Mothers in Poverty
Drew E. Langford
University of Maryland University College Asia

Child-rearing can present unique and diverse challenges to all parents. These challenges combined with the multiple complications due to poverty begin to paint a picture of the social problem for so many single mothers in many nations. A study of 18 affluent western democracies conducted by David Brady and Rebekah Burroway (2012) showed that single mothers across the board have a disproportionately higher risk of living in poverty. Single mothers have to contend with their poverty’s contributing factors such as low-education and the effects of government social policy (Brady & Burroway, 2012; Gemelli, 2008). Societal pressures
In the functionalist view, these women fall into the category of the poor who can be a benefit to greater society by maintaining jobs for social workers and public health experts Their poor economic status also helps to ensure that underpaid and often menial jobs are filled by these women (Schaefer, 2012, p. 202). The instability found within single mother households, such as struggling between making money and having time for their children, may be seen by functionalist as supporting evidence for the importance that distribution of labor roles needed between a traditional family that isn’t met by female only headed households (Shaefer, 2012, p. 271). After considering points of the stabilizing effects and a functionalist form of deviance on society single mothers pose, there must be consideration of how their situation could be a reflection of conflict within society. Conflict theorist and feminist can see the continuation of the affluent male domination over these subservient poor females (Schaefer, 2012, p. 310). Conflict theorist and feminist could also point to the value of men’s work compared to the work of these single mothers devalued as reflected in their low economic status (Shaefer, 2012, p. 310). Whichever perspective one uses, it becomes clear that collectively, single mothers do seem to have an influential place in a society, but further investigation may prove
In the study by Brady and Burroway (2012), it was suggested that by providing aid to the poor at large was more efficient in raising the standards of living for single mothers. Ideally, there would be universal programs for childcare to allow these women to have time for employment that may be less flexible for them to respond to family issues, but provide better wages. They may also use this time to further their education. Welfare such as education can be critical in upward social mobility, but the aid that is currently available can be hard to reach. Awareness of programs to help those wishing to go to college was shown in Wilson’s (2011) study of welfare and education for single mothers. The limitations found in Wilson’s study also showed many restrictions proved to discourage women from pursuing educational advancement (2011). There are a multitude of restrictions that can put single mothers in yet another disadvantaged position between choosing one part of their life over another, such as childcare over work or work over education (Barns, 2008; Wilson, 2011). By simplifying the paperwork and removing some of the restrictions there could be significant headway in improving the state of affairs for single mothers. Universal healthcare could remove some of financial burden to those women in countries that do not offer such a public service as well