Study Finds Disapproval of Single and Divorced Motherhood

NEW YORK, May 19, 2011 (NYDN) ? A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 69% of Americans think single women having children is bad for society. If you?re a mother who is contemplating divorce, you may want to take a closer look at these findings.

Over the past 50 years or so, the number of children who live with two married parents has fallen from 87% in 1960 to just 64% in 2008. This coincides with the shrinking institution of marriage. In 1960, 72% of Americans were married compared to 87% in 1960. At the same time, new arrangements have emerged that redefine what constitutes a family although there is obviously still some struggle for acceptance.

In addition to the 7 in 10 Americans who disapprove of single motherhood, 61% say that a child needs both a mother and a father to grow up happy. They also believe that the children of single parents face more challenges: 38% said ?a lot more? challenges and another 40% said ?a few more.?

Children of divorce raised even more concern with 42% saying they face a lot more challenges. While 99% regarded a married couple with children as a family, only 86% accorded the same status to a single parent with children. Not surprisingly, most adults living in non-traditional family arrangements say their life turned out differently than they expected with the end of a marriage being one of life?s worst surprises.

Among divorced and separated parents, 78% said their family life wasn?t what they originally envisioned. Overall, the public was aware of the broad trends impacting American families but confused about some details. Nearly 66% mistakenly believed that the divorce rate has gone up over the past 20 years when it really began leveling off and declining after a sharp rise in the 1960s and 1970s.

The study was based on a nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center in association with TIME magazine and U.S. Census data. So, what does all this mean if divorce may turn you into a single parent? Some of the survey responses could really be interpreted as acknowledging the financial hardships and increased demands on a single parent rather than imputing any stigma. The ever smaller proportion of adults who experience the economic gains that typically accrue from marriage is a valid public concern.

If you?re looking for support in the aftermath of your divorce, the survey suggests you may find more acceptance among the young, the secular, the liberal and the unmarried. In most cases, blacks were also more accepting than whites of less-traditional families. Interestingly, everyone was more likely to lend money to relatives including those from fractured marriages than to their best friends. When it came to a stepparent, 55% felt obligated to help out but only 39% felt the same obligation to a best friend.

Becoming a single parent is obviously a reality when you?re contemplating ending your marriage. Your divorce lawyer can assist you with understanding all the implications of your decision and trying to make the best arrangements for you and your family.

Related posts:

1. Divorced With Children? Participate in a National Divorce Survey
2. Study Finds Strong Public Support for Equal Child Custody Post Divorce
3. Social Security For Divorced Spouses
4. New York Divorce, Children and Religion
5. What Happens to Your Car When You Get Divorced?

Source: http://newyorkdivorcenews.com/study-finds-disapproval-of-single-and-divorced-motherhood/33722/

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