We live in the 21st century, yet the stigma against single moms still prevails. In a survey by Pew
Research Center in January 2011, 7 out of 10
Americans said that the trend toward more single women having children is bad
for society.
Single moms did not plan to go through parenting
alone. They also had dreams of a traditional home with both parents supporting
each other in raising their kids. Wrong
decision is the major reason why a woman became a single mom. We are human
beings prone to make mistakes.
Why
does society put the blame on women for having to raise children alone? Why are single moms condemned for something
they are not fully accountable for? Is it a crime to choose to raise their kids
alone (because the men are not brave enough to face their responsibility) rather
than go through abortion?
Single moms are ostracized as if they are spreading some kind of virus or propagating immoral living. Some people may look at single moms with pity, perceiving them as living in poverty and raising emotionally and behaviorally disturbed kids. Neighborhood crimes are immediately associated with kids of single moms.
I’ve been ridiculed and judged that I am not living right and that I am taking for granted my kids’ welfare. I’ve endured sarcastic remarks from supposedly religious and worthy people. Narrow minded people think that we neglect our children but this is very much the opposite of what we truly are. Our kids are well-cared for, probably better than kids living with 2 parents. We raise responsible, respectable kids with notable contributions to society. Our kids’ welfare comes first before anything or anyone not even our own interests. Our accusers assume that we live on welfare, living off the taxpayer’s money, a burden to society; what they are not aware of is that we take 2 or sometimes even 3 jobs to ensure that we provide the best for our kids – food, shelter, education.
Society in general, believes that single moms are bad parents and a detriment to society. Why can’t they accept that we are also humans who made mistakes but are doing our best to correct those mistakes and build a life for our children?
Stereotyped as irresponsible and even stupid, we are constantly pulled down by the upright members of society. I can endure all these but I dread the effect of this stigma on my children. As a mom, as a single mom, I stand on guard to shield my kids from this stigma.
There is nothing wrong with being a single mom especially when my children call me their hero. Being a single mom doesn’t mean that we’ve failed and that we are doomed to misery. It simply means that in our often difficult situation at home and at work, we must manage the chaos and shun the stigma.
Single moms are ostracized as if they are spreading some kind of virus or propagating immoral living. Some people may look at single moms with pity, perceiving them as living in poverty and raising emotionally and behaviorally disturbed kids. Neighborhood crimes are immediately associated with kids of single moms.
I’ve been ridiculed and judged that I am not living right and that I am taking for granted my kids’ welfare. I’ve endured sarcastic remarks from supposedly religious and worthy people. Narrow minded people think that we neglect our children but this is very much the opposite of what we truly are. Our kids are well-cared for, probably better than kids living with 2 parents. We raise responsible, respectable kids with notable contributions to society. Our kids’ welfare comes first before anything or anyone not even our own interests. Our accusers assume that we live on welfare, living off the taxpayer’s money, a burden to society; what they are not aware of is that we take 2 or sometimes even 3 jobs to ensure that we provide the best for our kids – food, shelter, education.
Society in general, believes that single moms are bad parents and a detriment to society. Why can’t they accept that we are also humans who made mistakes but are doing our best to correct those mistakes and build a life for our children?
Stereotyped as irresponsible and even stupid, we are constantly pulled down by the upright members of society. I can endure all these but I dread the effect of this stigma on my children. As a mom, as a single mom, I stand on guard to shield my kids from this stigma.
There is nothing wrong with being a single mom especially when my children call me their hero. Being a single mom doesn’t mean that we’ve failed and that we are doomed to misery. It simply means that in our often difficult situation at home and at work, we must manage the chaos and shun the stigma.
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