Children Raised by Single Parents Can Be as Progressive as Those Raised by Both Parents - Essay Example

Children raised by single parents can be as progressive with emotional, social and behavioral skills as those raised by both parents Parenting is a very difficult, complicated task even when two adults share parenting responsibilities. The situation is worse for single parents forced to take on parenting responsibilities on their own. It is for this reason that many are skeptical about the developmental outcome of children raised by single parents. Some scholars posit that single parenthood results in adverse consequences for children whereas their counterparts claim the opposite. This paper explores whether or not disparities exist within children’s social, emotional, and behavioral skills of children when raised by a single or both parents. Single parenthood is on the rise across the globe resulting in mixed reactions pertaining to the stability of children raised by single parents. The high prevalence is attributable to a multitude of factors; for example, the rampant spread of feminist ideologies, technological advancement and high divorce rate (Ellwood & Jencks 1). Feminist ideologies advocate for women empowerment achieved through financial liberation, and disputing socially constructed gender based stereotypes that confine women to specific social roles. The modern, liberated woman defies traditional social expectations whereby, marriage becomes less of a priority as the focus shifts to career development. In addition, these women are free to express their sexuality openly; for example, pre-marital sex and having children out of wedlock is now common and met with minimal disapproval by the society (Ellwood & Jencks 4). In some cases, these women explore alternative methods of having children on their own such as adoption or procuring the services of fertility specialists trained to perform artificial inseminations. Technological advancements targeting reproductive health have made the latter possible. Finally, the high divorce rate also contributes to the rise in single parenthood. Initially, courts required proof of infidelity, neglect or abuse to dissolve a marriage. This is not the case in contemporary society whereby, legislative directives approve no-fault divorces (divorces based on irreconcilable differences) (Ellwood & Jencks 5). In “Resilience and Vulnerability”, authors Hetherington & Elmore (182-212) discuss the role of resilience in influencing positive development of children raised by single parents. Resilience refers to an individual’s ability to cope and adapt to changes in their physical and social environment. Hetherington and Elmore infer that parenting styles adopted by parents function to build or destroy a child’s ability to cope with the continually changing environment. Permissive, severe, uninvolved, and autocratic parenting styles result in maladjusted children whereas democratic parenting style results in well-adjusted children. It is easier for a single parent to maintain consistency in the parenting style used compared to two parents who might find it difficult to decide on the parenting style that best works for them and fits their personality (Hetherington &Elmore 190). For example, a parent raised in a rigid environment characterized by strict adherence to rules and regulations will lean towards raising their children in the same manner, which might conflict with their spouse’s preferred parenting style especially if the spouse grew up in a permissive environment. In addition, Naglieri & LeBuffe (107-121) infer in their text “Handbook of Resilience in Children”, that a child’s external and internal factors determine their ability to cope with changes such as divorce, death of a parent or an absentee parent, which are all contributors of single parenthood. External factors include support received from family members, peers and institutions such as schools or religious institutions. Psychologist Abraham Maslow mentioned love and affection as one of the basic human needs in his hierarchy of needs pyramid (DeLamate & Meyers 24). A single parent who unconditionally loves their children by taking interest in their child’s lives is able to fulfill the child’s love and affection needs resulting in a well-adjusted child. The reverse holds true for couples who devote little time to parenting their children. Conversely, internal factors encompass a child’s attitudes, beliefs and values, which combine to form the child’s personality. Psychologists generally define personality as stable traits that persist in different situations and are unique to a specific individual. Children with well-adjusted personalities are resilient and are capable of handling the complexities of single parenthood. For example, a well-adjusted child will not throw a tantrum when their single parent has to pick up an extra shift at work to make some extra money, as they understand the situation (Naglieri & LeBuffe 115). However, the reality of the matter is that majority of the scholars maintain that single parenthood results in adverse developmental effects on children. In the second stage (anal stage) of his, psychosexual stages of development, renowned psychologist Sigmund Freud postulated that the male child developed sexual feelings towards the mother while concurrently resenting the father, which he referred to as the Oedipus complex. However, these feelings of jealousy disseminated after the male child began identifying with the father. Freud inferred that the same thing happened to female children, and referred to the phenomenon as the Electra complex. The unsuccessful resolution of the Oedipus and Electra complexes resulted in fixation at the anal developmental stage. Freud’s findings revealed the pivotal role of parents in their children’s development by highlighting the specific role of each parent (Meyers 33). Therefore, absence of a single parent impedes proper development, as the child is unable to resolve the internal conflict that leads them to identify with parents of same sex. In such cases, maladjusted personalities develop predisposing the child to pathological behaviors that persist into adulthood. Researchers also analyze the impact of single parenthood on children’s academic performance, delinquency, and sexuality. In their 1994 study titled “Growing up with a Single Family”, McLanahan and Sandefur analyzed data from various American Surveys concluding that children raised by both parents scored highly in achievement tests, had a higher rate of graduating from high school and attending college, and reported fewer incidences of teenage pregnancy. In addition, children raised by single parents previously engaged in an ugly divorce suffer from psychological and emotional disturbances. As a result, they tend to display aggressive behavior, which might attract adverse legal consequences (McLanahan & Sandefur). In conclusion, it is apparent that the development of well-adjusted children hinges on parenting styles and a child’s resilience. The number of parents raising a child exerts minimal influence on the child’s overall development. However, situations such as volatile divorces might result in adverse consequences for the child. Works Cited DeLamate, John and Myers, Daniel. Social Psychology. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Ellwood, David T. and Christopher Jencks. The Spread of Single-Parent Families in the United States since 1960. PDF. Boston: Harvard University Press, 2002. Print. Hetherington, E. M. and A. M. Elmore. Resilience and vulnerability: Adaptation in the context of childhood adversities. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Print. McLanahan, Sara, and Gary Sandefur. Growing Up with a Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994. Myers, David G. Exploring Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers, 2010. Print. Naglieri, J. A. and P. A. LeBuffe. Handbook of Resilience in Children. New York: Plenum Publishers, 2005. Print. Read More