Is there a realistc way of decreasing single parenhood?

Question

I ask this because 1) over 90 % of men entering federal prisons are sons of single mothers 2) such women often land in permanent poverty 3) it deprives them of advanced schooling, better jobs 4) they are a drag on the taxpayers

Answer 1

Is it really 90%? that's a damn high figure. I'd also like to know what proportion of men who have single mothers are entering prison (most of them probably manage just fine).

But anyway, making contraception more widely available and also legalising abortion would probably be the best ways to reduce the number of single parents around, especially those who got that way by accident. If a father is known then having him support the child should be expected (though custody shouldn't automatically go to either parent, the single fathers who do exist are probably exceptional because that's what a dad would have to be to get custody of a child and in no way predicts what would happen if most single parents were single dads).

Answer 2

The number of low/no income single women having children has gone up at almost the same exact rate that the welfare benefits have gone up . If you want to reduce the number of welfare moms you have to make the potential welfare moms aware that they will have to go though some significant effort to get the benefits .For instance they will have to be subject to drug testing , home inspections and attend parenting classes . And that the benefits will be more closely controlled , and limited . For instance instead of Food Stamps ,food will be provided at a community center and shelter will be possibly in a group home .
Also there should be some controll over the distribution to the under 21 of music ( and other media) which glorifies things such as irresponsible sex , gang banging , and such .)
This took place , voluntarily , in Hollywood in the 40's and 50's when it was discovered that these movies which glorified gangsters and organized crime encouraged copycat behavior .
Sorcha ( below) , I think what is being discussed is not ALL single mothers , but the pockets of single mothers that live in such places as the projects in Atlantic City NJ and Newark NJ , and Philly PA, and Newport R.I. I am the son of a single mom . Single moms have trouble with controlling ( diciplining ) their sons . Sons have trouble dealing with ( finding their role in the family )having a single mom . The projects I mentioned have all the problems associated with single welfare moms living in a ghetto ( which is often the only place these moms can find housing . The children do poorly in school . The young men look for fast easy money and drop out of school . They turn to illegal activities and violence is rampent in these societies . ( Newark has been averaging 2 murders a week for the past two years .) The young women do not listen to their mom's when they instruct "Do as I say , not as I did ." and they go "get popular" and on the "welfare babytrain" rather than getting real jobs .

Answer 3

First of all I had an abusive husband, I've got the scars to prove it and didn't want "Any man I could get". Secondly, my mom raised me as a single parent and I did quite well. I even got away from the moron who was abusive. I even have two kids of my own who don't rely on the support of the government because I have a strong work ethic and am able to support my kids.
Now on to the real issue. Americans don't take their marriage vows seriously any more. Most men still want their wives to stay home with the kids when they know that it will still take two incomes to stay afloat if they want to make sure their kids have good educations. America is very lax in their raising the future. Another problem we have is not with the single parents or the married ones. The problem lies in the fact that parents are afraid to "parent" their own children. If they do something wrong, the kids don't learn that there are consequences to their actions.
How often do you go out to eat and have to deal with several small kids running all over, screaming their heads off? If that was you and your parents, do you think your behind would be sore from a good spank when you got home? Not that I condone hitting children but most of these parents don't even tell their child to "Sit down and behave!", they ignore the children hoping they will stop because they "aren't paying attention to them that they are trying so hard to get". Pffftt! Please! Most kids these days feel like they can get away with being rude to their elders, walk all over anyone to get what they want because they did it to their own mom and dad.
90% of men entering federal prisons are sons of single mothers? I don't believe that statistic in the slightest. Such women do NOT often land in permanent poverty if they've got the balls to work for their kids rather than against them. Being a single parent does not deprive anyone of any schooling advanced or otherwise and it isn't always the single parents who are a drag on the taxpayers. It's the people who are too lazy to get up off their rear ends and get a job, because it is easier to get food stamps and disability than it is to get a paycheck for a hard days work. If I were you I would go back and re-check your statistics and then try this again.

Answer 4

What an absolute load of crap.

I know lots of single mothers, some who have had children single by choice. None of them are impoverished, and they certainly do not eat up your tax dollar. There is no reason why a child from a single parent family cannot have the same as those in a different living arrangement.

What about all the familes dragging on the taxpayers?? The ones who have both parents on the dole and 5 kids under 10?? People in this country are so close minded, and need to realise that it is not just single parents who raise troublesome children. Anyone with a child runs that risk.

I come from a broken home, so I guess that made my mother a single mum. I may not have had everything I wanted, but I certainly always had everything I needed. Both myself and my brother had excellent education, excellent work ethics, manners and clean records. Do not be so quick to judge and stereotype.

Answer 5

Force men who impregnate and run to pay double tax and undergo castration and make abortion mandatory.

Watch the numbers fall!

PS: I'M NOT SERIOUS ... You can't legislate common sense behaviour, just educate people. It's a process, we can't expect results overnight. Even 50 years is 'overnight' in historical terms, change takes time.

In fact, birth numbers ARE decreasing in all western countries, and most single parents do a fine job of raising their children. We hear a lot about the ones that don't, thanks to a sensationalist media, but not much about the many battlers who struggle on day after day providing a good home for their kids against tough odds.

Let's not forget that a century ago, 90 per cent of men in prisons were almost certainly the children of MARRIED couples ... maybe we need to look at OTHER causes of this type of problem?

Cheers :-)

Answer 6

Take judges that award women custody 90% of the time to women regardless of other factors off the bench. Make it socially expected for a man to take care of a child if only one parent in available. Children raised by their fathers as a single parents make, on avarage, 30,000 dollars more per year, and are three times as likely to seek higher education. Mothers make good single parents for tiny children, and look better on teh surface, but they derail the child's hope of a future.

Answer 7

Invest in free birh control methods.
Education of both sexes at schools.

Answer 8

Yes. Women need to stop men from c.u.m.m.i.n.g. in them!!!

Answer 9

Bring back the word "SHAME"