Why does the USA have such A High Number of UnWed Mothers?

Question

Is it a character issue?

Is it a birth control issue?

Is it a lack of self respect?

Is is something else.................?

dragonlad: except in the case of rape, the men arent forcing women to open their legs without putting a ring on the finger first.
The ultimate "decision maker" is the one opening her legs...he didnt decide for her to do that, he just asked if he could 'get some' without marriage, she decides.

Answer 1

they are to easy and dont use protection

Answer 2

The highest rate of unwed mothers is now coming from women over the age of 35. Many of these women are hearing their"biological clock" ticking and decide to have children ,married or not. Society does not look down on these women the way they did 30-40 years ago.It is even thought of as a good thing by some groups.
I actually think of it as a moral issue. We as a society have been more and more accepting of single parenthood.There was a time when this just didn't happen. Abortion and adoption were seen as an answer to unplanned pregnancy. Families took care of the new mothers. Today ,families are not as strong as they once were,leading to a whole host of problems. What America needs is to take a step back to a time when people took responsibility for their own actions.

Answer 3

You need to understand that the United States of America is a big country with billions of citizens. Its also called the land of opportunities and attract many aliens. Given its size, the percentage of unwed mothers may look big to one country but not in the U.S. Sex are spoken widely in the west versus any Asian countries. Asian are generally very conservative people. Having said that, sex became a 'non issue' among most teenages in the US. Some chose to abort the pregnancy while others chose to remain as unwed mothers thus the statistic. However, for Asians being an unwed mother is a taboo. Once an unmarried girl is pregnant the parents would marry her off at the earliest possible time. This could be one reason why unwed mothers are lower in percentage in Asian versus the west.

Answer 4

Is it a character issue? -- Could be. It takes great strength of character to be a single mom and to commit yourself to raising happy, healthy, confident kids without a husband. I'd like to think American women have that character in spades.

Is it a birth control issue?-- Some women accidentally get pregnant. Some don't. So I doubt this is a true factor. Besides, we are fortunate enough to live in a time and place where no woman has to be pregnant unless she chooses to be pregnant. And I know of no law anywhere in America that forbids men from using condoms.

Is it a lack of self respect?-- Extremely unlikely. It's more indicative of a lack of self-respect for a woman to enter into marriage with the wrong man for any reason or to deny herself the privilege of motherhood because she hasn't met Mr. Adequate. Single moms do it all and have every right to be proud of themselves and their families.

Is is something else.................? Many factors. The ridiculous stigma of the past has mercifully faded away, women are better educated and more self-sufficient than in the past, more women are buying their own homes (and then realizing they have the right to fill them up, if they so choose) than ever before, women are more unwilling to tolerate unsatisfactory relationships, it goes on and on. Plus, more couples are choosing to cohabit instead of marry than in the past, and those mothers are also included in the total of single moms as are same-sex mothers in committed relationships.

Answer 5

i honestly think it's the welfare system. A single woman who is pregnanct and decides to have a child won't give it us as easy as in other poorer countries because she will have some means(albeit poor means) to care for it through the welfare system. Also, it's societal. It is socially more acceptable to be a single mom now than ever. I think in years past it was something that wasn't talked about a girl either quietly had an abortion or was whisked away somewhere to have her baby and put it up for adoption. Without the societal stigma, we are saying it's ok. And I'd like to say it is ok but only if you are able to provide well for that child. The problem lies in children having children. I believe that begins a vicious cycle that few young unwed mothers are able to overcome.

Answer 6

I think because the country has come to look at the practice as "acceptable" where as 30 and 40 years ago a woman who had a child out of wedlock was looked down upon.

I guess I'm old fashioned but I think its a shame. Don't get me wrong...I'm not a prude really....I'm not saying everyone should remain chaste until marriage but birth control is incredibly easy to obtain and there are so many different methods of birth control there really is no reason for all of the unplanned pregnancies that are happening....

Answer 7

High relative to where?

Actually, the number of unmarried teen moms has decreased. It's older women that are fueling the increase. And this demographic often has nothing in common with teens. They are often educated with professional jobs. But they can't find a suitable partner, and they really want a family. Actually, these families do very well. Too many studies confuse teen mom families or single mothers of the underclass (with men in prison, on drugs, chronically absent/abusive) etc. with middle class who single middle class moms who choose to have children. Also realize that a lot of "single" moms cohabitate with the father of their children, but will show up as "single" in the census, etc. I am technically a "single" mom, but I have lived with the father of my son for ten years, and I truly suspect we'll be together till one of us croaks.

Answer 8

Its a lack of respect for the other. People are selfish nowadays, and don't fully want to commit, always seeking to find greener grass, and leaving seeds behind. Most people do not realize with unprotected sex, there comes responsiblity and for those who do realize it, they spend most of there time avoiding it, hoping that they can sweep it under the rug and forget about it. How can a man have respect for himself if he brings for life but can never fully commit to it? And vise verse. I don't think its a matter of demographics or circumstance, i believe it's all in what you feel you yourself are worth. To give into temptation is to walk blindly. That being said, how can you raise a child to be somebody when you carry yourself as nothing?

Answer 9

It's a sign of the times....decreased morality, ect. But the USA isn't the only nation with a high number of unwed mothers.....many, many countries have that problem....including Brittain, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Bosnia, Russia, ect. Have a good day.

Answer 10

It's because we also have a high number of Deadbeat Dads. It takes two people to create a child last time I checked, and for there to be a single mother, that means that somewhere out there is a man who did not take responsibility. Don't just put it on the chicks, their characters, and self respect, kay? They cannot impregnate themselves, even with low self esteem and a tendency to promiscuity.

Answer 11

i believe in part because marriage is not respected as back in the old days i guess you would say people in general have lost respect in the the fact that at one time being married was a sacred thing as well as having a baby in marriage also to it might have something to do with girls having sex at younger ages and i think what young girls listen to and whatch on the boob tube and movies also encourage the pregnancy rate also birth control is readily available to whom ever needs it. in california there is a program called family pac and it covers all needs for girls and boys with out any ins needed or parental privacy.