Female-headed Single-parent Families Research Articles

The Implementation of Social Welfare Policy in Taiwan: Regarding Single Parent Families

Within members of the global village, affluent or poor nations alike, the family structure has undergone a dramatic change. Taiwan is no exception. In the past, the traditional Taiwanese family secures social order by fusing social forces adhesively. However, accompanied with economic development, feminist movement and population immigration, the traditional Taiwanese family structure has undergone a dramatically change. The traditional family has faced colossal challenges; the increased unwedded mothers, sky-high divorce rate, separated family due to parents working in the both side of the Taiwan Strait. All of these contribute towards making the single parent family as a “social fact” in the trend of Taiwan social change.Unlike other countries, the ratio of single parent family with male headed families has been relatively high in Taiwan. A 2001 nationwide survey of 3500 single parent families in Taiwan indicates that the ratio of male headed and female headed single parent families respectively is close to 1:1, and the economic condition has no significant difference. Furthermore, since the remarried rate of parents in the single parent family is low (in 2007 the divorce rate in Taiwan was 2.5/1000, the remarried rate for male was 27.1/1000, for female was 11.2/1000), more than half of surveyed single parent families have lived in such structure more than five years. It shows that the lifestyle of single parent family in Taiwan has become commonplace. Two distinctive characteristics of Taiwanese single parent family are the high ratio of (1) covert single parent family due to a conservative culture regarding separation being better than divorce; (2) three generation family with grandparents, single parent, and children becomes the most significant social support network of single parent family. Follow this line of thinking, Taiwanese social policy of single parent family should be planned to adjust to the special cultural needs of single parent families in Taiwan like single parent family living with grandparents. However, Taiwanese government has not yet implemented such policy and establishes various social aids for eliminating poverty. These unstructured aids have focused generally on single parent family with mother only while most single parent families relied on un-official and non-organizational support.This study has suggested that the government should actively construct comprehensive family-focused policy and support network among single parent families to provide services to reduce their heavy housework and work load and explore different needs of various single families.

Divorced Mothers' Guilt

The deficit view of female-headed single-parent families continues to be reinforced through the dominant sociocultural discourse and research from the modernist paradigm. Exploration of divorced mothers' experiences from a feminist perspective illuminates interpersonal and intrapersonal sources of guilt for these women, and how guilt is reinforced by social, economic, legal, and religious institutions. Guilt impedes the divorce recovery process for mothers, and an integrative intervention is proposed that blends three postmodern approaches to therapy (feminist, collaborative-linguistic, and competence-based) so as to (1) invite divorced mothers to share their meaning systems, (2) encourage these women to extend their meaning systems beyond that of the dominant sociocultural discourse, and (3) empower these mothers to create a positive vision of the future through exploration of the resources and potential benefits of female-headed single-parent households.

Changes in womens' roles: Impact on and social policy implications for the mental health of women and children

In recent years. womens' roles have changed dramatically, prompting researchers to examine the impact of these changes on the development of women and children. In this article, we examine three major changes that women have experienced over the past several decades: increased participation in the paid labor force, changes in domestic labor and child-care patterns, and increased numbers of female-headed single-parent families. For each, we first describe the nature of the changes that have occurred over the last 50 years. We then review research concerning the effects of these changes on the development of women and children. Finally, we discuss the implications for social policy that stem from this research. It is broadly concluded that research informed by a developmental-contextual perspective may contribute importantly to the development of social policies focused on promoting the well-being of women and children.

A living wage for former welfare recipients entering employment: The case of Butler County, Ohio

Since the late 1970s, changes in family income in the United States have varied by income category. While the average income of families with children in the top 20% of the income distribution has grown, the average income of families with children in the bottom 20% has declined. Factors contributing to the growing income gap include disparities in wages paid to low-income workers relative to high-income workers, an increase in female-headed single parent families, and a decrease in the value of the minimum wage. Welfare reform will likely only exacerbate this situation. This study synthesizes existing research as well as data from an Ohio county to demonstrate that the minimum wage incomes available to poor families are not sufficient for even basic necessities. In order for former AFDC recipients to become economically independent, government policies must be enacted to increase wages and/or provide income assistance for poor families.

Responsible Fathering: An Overview and Conceptual Framework

This article defines responsible fathering, summarizes the relevant research, and presents a systemic, ecological framework to organize research and programmatic work in this area. A principal finding is that fathering is influenced, even more than mothering, by contextual factors in the family and community. Key Words: coparental relationship, fathers, father-child relationship, family relations and dynamics, divorce, parenting. For more than a century, American society has engaged in a sometimes contentious debate about what it means to be a responsible parent. Whereas most of the cultural debate about mothers has focused on what, if anything, mothers should do outside the family, the debate about fathers has focused on what fathers should do inside the family. What role should fathers play in the everyday lives of their children, beyond the traditional breadwinner role? How much should they emulate the traditional nurturing activities of mothers, and how much should they represent a masculine role model to their children? Is fatherhood in a unique crisis in late twentieth century America (Blankenhorn, 1995; Doherty, 1997; Griswold, 1993; LaRossa, 1997; Popenoe, 1996)? The recent upsurge of interest in fathering has generated concern among supporters of women's and mothers' rights that the emphasis on the important role of fathers in families may feed longstanding biases against female-headed single-parent families, that services for fathers might be increased at the expense of services for single mothers, and that the profatherhood discourse might be used by the fathers' rights groups who are challenging custody, child support, and visitation arrangements after divorce. On the other hand, feminist psychologists have recently argued for more emphasis on fathering and have suggested that involved, nurturing fathers will benefit women as well as children (Phares, 1996; Silverstein, 1996). Only an ecologically sensitive approach to parenting, which views the welfare of fathers, mothers, and children as intertwined and interdependent, can avoid a zero-sum approach to parenting in which fathers' gains become mothers' losses. These cultural debates serve as a backdrop to the social science research on fathering because researchers are inevitably influenced by the cultural context within which they work (Doherty, Boss, LaRossa, Schumm, & Steinmetz, 1993). In their recent reanalysis of the historical trends of American ideals of fatherhood, Pleck and Pleck (1997) see the emerging ideal of fatherhood in the late twentieth century as father as equal coparent. (From 1900 to 1970, the dominant cultural ideal was the genial dad and sex role model, and from 1830 to 1900, the distant breadwinner.) Research on fathering, then, has attained prominence in the social sciences during an era of historically high expectations of men's involvement in the everyday lives of their children. Not surprisingly, a good deal of that research has compared levels of fathers' involvement with mothers' involvement because mothers have become the benchmark for norms for fathering (Day & Mackey, 1989). This post-1970s interest in fathering has been fueled by the reappraisal of family roles for women and by unprecedented demographic changes in the American family. In other words, scholarly, professional, and public policy interest in fathering has crystallized during the time that the foundation of traditional fathering-the physically present father who serves as the unique family breadwinner-has been eroding rapidly. With more than half of mothers in the work force, with new marriages breaking up at a rate of 50%, and with nearly one third of births to single women, the landscape of fathering has been altered substantially (Bumpass, 1990; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1994a). Sociological and historical work on fathering makes it clear that fathering (at least beyond insemination) is fundamentally a social construction. …

The demographic characteristics of Medicaid-eligible uninsured children.

This study estimated the number of uninsured children in 1993 who were eligible for Medicaid. Data from the March 1990 and 1994 Current Population Surveys were analyzed. At least 2.3 million Medicaid-eligible children were uninsured in 1993. These children were more likely to have a working parent than children on Medicaid. Higher proportions of uninsured children less than 6 years of age, children who lived in female-headed single-parent families, and African-American and Hispanic children were eligible for Medicaid. Many eligible children do not enroll in Medicaid, and they differ in specific ways from enrolled children.

Child Influences, Attitudinal and Behavioral Comparisons between Single Parent and Dual Parent Households in Grocery Shopping Decisions

Female-headed single parent families are the fastest growing family type in the United States. Using a mail-out survey this study tests several hypotheses that differences exist between this family type and two parent families on grocery shopping attitudes and behaviors. Single mothers and married mothers hold similar attitudes toward grocery shopping. It is the behavior of the children and the interaction of the parent with the children that represents the major source of difference between the two family types. Family shopping is three times as common for single parent families, and children of single parents shop alone for the family at three times the rate of children raised in dual parent households. Potential marketing implications are discussed.

Family strengths, motivation, and resources as predictors of health promotion behavior in single-parent and two-parent families.

The extent to which selected aspects of family health potential (strengths, motivation, and resources) predicted health work (health-related problem-solving and goal attainment behaviors) was examined in a Canadian sample of 138 female-headed single-parent families and two-parent families. The mother and one child (age 10-14) each completed mailed self-report instruments to assess the independent variables of family cohesion, family pride, mother's non-traditional sex role orientation, general self-efficacy, internal health locus of control, network support, community support, and family income, as well as the dependent variable, health work. With the effects of mothers' education held constant, the independent variables predicted 22 to 27% of the variance in health work in the total sample and each family type. Family cohesion was the most consistent predictor of health work, accounting for 8 to 13% of the variance. The findings challenge existing problem-oriented views of single-parent families by focusing on their potential to engage in health promotion behavior.

Area variations in the prevalence of lone parent families in England and Wales: a research note.

Using data from the 1991 census, the authors explore some of the correlates of area variations in the prevalence of lone parent families in England and Wales. The primary factors associated with the prevalence of female-headed single-parent families were identified as unemployment and the proportion of the population identifying themselves as "Black".

Reframing the Dialogue on Female-Headed Single-Parent Families

The increase in female-headed single-parent families, and the high rates of poverty among them, caused by changing economic and social support structures, is an international phenomenon. The traditional negative focus on the deviance of this family structure has led to blaming unmarried women, rather than implementing economic and social support structures that could lift their families out of poverty. This article presents data on these families and suggests ways of reframing the dialogue to broaden the lens under which social work educators, students, and practitioners view single-mother families.

Building healthy families: a program for single mothers.

With the ever-increasing number of single-parent families, innovative and creative strategies aimed to improve family health must be developed. The stress-producing lifestyle of single-parent families offers great challenges to family CNSs. In this article, a project designed to teach positive health behaviors and life skills to female-headed single-parent families is described. The project, development and implementation of an education/support group, combines health education and small group discussion for an effective therapeutic intervention for single-parent female participants.

Employed Single Mothers:

The recent attention on work and family issues has focused almost exclusively on dual earner couples and working married mothers while largely ignoring female headed single parent families. Given that single mothers have and will continue to have a significant presence in the work world, it is important lo consider their priority needs. However, there is minimal empirical data about the work and home lives of working single mothers and little understanding of differences that exist between their experiences and those of other working mothers. This article offers a comprehensive description of the current experiences of employed single mothers and details new insights into their concerns and issues. EAP and corporate stralegies that could reduce stress and enhance resiliency are discussed in order to maximize the role of EAPs in meeting the needs of this growing employee population.

The Impact of Female-Headed Single Parent Families on Academic Achievement

The authors used path analysis and a series of least square regression to determine the direct effect of family configurations on student academic achievement. Contrary to previous reports (Brown, 1980; Boyd & Parish, 1985; Kaye, 1989) father absence did not attenuate academic progress of students involved in the study. Results indicated a negligible effect of family configurations on academic achievement (Beta = -.0039). Rather, factors such as ability (Beta = .4720), educational aspirations (Beta =.2768) and race of the student (Beta = .1605) have been illustrated within this model as having the greatest direct effects on academic achievement of adolescents living within female-headed single parent families.

Black Teenage Pregnancy: An African Perspective

ABSTRACT Black teenage pregnancy in South Africa and the rest of Africa is discussed. Problems of family disorganization are examined. An increasing number of, female-headed single parent families; out-of-wedlock children; unwanted and abandoned babies; street children; adolescents with sexuality transmitted disease and teenage pregnancies attest to this. Particular reference is made to a research study by Boult and Cunningham (1991) of Black Teenage Pregnancy in Port Elizabeth. The study demonstrates that teenage pregnancy is associated with disorganized family structure; disregard of traditional cultural norms; low education; lack of knowledge and use of contraception and, a correlation between age at onset of menarche and onset of sexual activity. It is associated with a negative response to the pregnancy from the teenager, her sexual partner and her family. There is a lack of realistic planning on her and her child's behalf. Recommendations to prevent further deterioration of quality of life for ‘chil...

The effect of employment and welfare on family structure: explaining the time trend of female-headed families.

The author critically reviews various hypotheses that have been put forward in order to explain the rise in the number of female-headed single-parent families among both blacks and whites in the United States. Specifically, regression of time series data is used to examine the relative effects of welfare benefits, male and female employment rates, and changing social values.

Personal Health Practices in Single Parent and Two Parent Families

The study examined (1) the differences in personal health practices by family type-single parent versus two parent-and (2) the relationship of family characteristics-socialization practices, extent of social networks, health training efforts by parents, family SES-to personal health practices in single parent and two parent families. A convenience sample of 41 white, middle-class families (21 female headed single parent families and 20 two parent families) with at least one child 8-14 were interviewed in their homes using a modified version of Pratt's family health interview schedule. Partial support for hypothesized relationships between family characteristics and personal health practices was established.

38 ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD DISABILITY: DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS ON MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT BY RACE AND FAMILY INCOME

Econometric studies of maternal employment have found an inverse relationship with husband's income and higher rates for blacks. This paper examines whether child disability attenuates the effects of race and income on maternal employment. Data on 370 families of children 3 to 18 years old with cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, myelodysplasia or multiple handicaps and 450 ran domly selected families with children in the same age range in the Cleveland area were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis with other predictors of maternal employment as covariates was used separately for two-parent and single-parent families. For two-parent families, a disabled child reduces the probability of maternal employment for those with income less than $19,000: the lower the income the greater the effect. In this group child disability interacts also with race: For whites, a disabled child reduces the probability of maternal employment from 45% to 32%, whereas for blacks the reduction is markedly greater, i.e., from 60% to 23%. For female-headed single-parent families, the interactive effects of child disability with income and race are weaker. This indicates that among two-parent families child disability has a greater impact upon the earning potential of those with low compared to those with high income and of blacks compared to whites.