Theories on Single Parenting - Essay Example

Submitted To Lone Parenting Background Knowledge A single parent generally refers to a parent who has the majority of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of the children, which would classify them as the leading caregiver. The main caregiver is the parent in whom the kids have custody with greater part of the time; if the parents are separated or divorced broods live with their custodial parent and have visitation with their noncustodial blood relation. In western culture in general, following separation, a child will finish up with the prime caregiver, primary the mother, and a secondary caregiver, usually the father (A. McCashin, 1996 ). Key Statistics and Trends Since the 1960s, there has been a noticeable boost in the quantity of kids living with a single parent. The 1960 United States Census stated that 9% of children were reliant on a single parent, a figure that has augmented to 28% by the 2000 US Census. The point was caused by a raise in unmarried pregnancies, which 36% of all births by unmarried women, and to the rising dominance of divorces among couples. In 2000, 11% of kids were living with parents who had in no way been married, 15.6% of kids lived with a divorced parent, and 1.2% lived with a parent who was widowed. The outcome of the 2010 United States Census revealed that 27% of children live with one parent, constant with the rising trend eminent in 2000. About 16% of children internationally live in a single-parent family circle. In 2006, 12.9 million families in the US were lead by a single parent, 80% of which were headed by a feminine. In 2003, 14% of all Australian family units were single-parent families. Since 2001, 31% of offspring’s born in Australia have been born to unmarried mothers. In the United Kingdom, about 1 out of 4 families with reliant children are single-parent families, 8 to 11 percent of which have a male single-parent (Glass, 1977). The demographics of solitary parenting show a common increase worldwide in children living in single parent homes. Figures from the United States, South Korea, and the United Kingdom all come under this inclination. Multiple debates regarding single parenthood have come about over time. Debates relating to not only the single parents themselves, but also the children implicated, support for the families in single parent households, and more have increased to the surface. Divorce is one of the core events that directed to single parenting. Divorce can have many diverse effects on the children concerned, and there are many ways to deal with it to try to make the whole thing go efficiently (Joe Hudson, 1993). Explanations that have been offered / debated, and the theories underpinning for these Single parenting theories are views and beliefs about single parenting. Single parenting theories vary from culture to culture. They rely on the race, faith, age, gender, psychological state, emotional state, and monetary state of the individuals who completed them. Here are some of the renowned theories: Christian Theories On Single Parenting All Christians believe that two individuals who discover themselves as one were put as one by God. Once they are blessed with the child then it is the God’s will. According to his belief nothing is perfect in society, hence it can be torn apart or families can be separated sometimes reluctantly. Christians consider that God can substitute the absent parent. The mother can be substituted by the Holy Spirit, and the father can be substituted by the Holy Father. They deem it is up to the parents to give, care for, control, and guide their kids whether one of the parents is absent or not (Parrish, 2009). Social theories on single parenting Social single parenting theories can differ extremely. Most communal individuals believe the need to be a component of society in some mode or another. In the premature days of single parenting, divorced or widowed persons may practice a move in their personality. They feel unusual, and they assume that society looks at them through unusual eyes too. Some of them may decide to become reserved. Others may find they become considerate, and find it essential to contain the wishes of others in order to obtain endorsement. Some begin to negotiate, and attempt to locate middle ground by bartering their way to solution. Every individual has single parenting theory of their own, and these theories will in due course determine their realities. Psychiatric theories on single parenting Psychiatric single parenting theories take a gaze at single parenting from a mental viewpoint, and are concerned with the states of mental physical condition of single parents. Single parents that uncover themselves under pressure to make ends meet may become indignant, bitter, miserable, lonely, and frightened. The mental state of the child eventually depends on the mental state of the single parent (Glass, 1977). Medical theories on single parenting Medical theories concerning single parenting are apprehensive with the physical comfort of single parents. Most single parents will locate that they have to labor in order to provide monetarily for their child. The equilibrium between work and single parenthood is often hard to find. Holistic theories on single parenting Holistic single parenting theories find themselves with the whole existence of a single parent. Most single parents discover that they have to manage with loss. They have to presuppose a supplementary role, for example; being a father even if they are a mother. Policy approaches to the issue Since the Finer Committee reported in 1974, there has been no substantial review of policies for lone-parent families. Nevertheless policy has not stood still but has designed in a number of conflicting ways. Various measures have enhanced the incomes of lone mothers on supplementary benefit/income support. In 1980 the higher long-term supplementary benefit scale rates were extended to lone parents after one, rather than two, years on benefit. The tapered earnings disregard, also introduced in 1980, sought to encourage lone parents on supplementary benefit to establish or maintain a link with the world of paid employment and at the same time enhance their incomes. The introduction of income support with a premium for lone parents and the £15 earnings disregard has maintained these policies (Parrish, 2009). Meanwhile for those in employment there are now a number of benefits available to lone parents as additions to wages. These include one parent benefit, family income supplement/family credit, and housing benefit. In the case of the latter two benefits, lone parents have been eligible for these on slightly more generous conditions than two-parent families. These policies have reflected a number of potentially competing objectives: a desire to maintain the living standards of lone-parent families on marital breakdown; a concern to enable parents to support vulnerable children; and recognition of the special needs of families with only one parent. However at the same time policy has sought not to encourage marital breakdown and not to put barriers in the way of remarriage. State benefits are very important to lone parents, providing either an alternative or a supplement to their two other main sources of income-maintenance and earnings. For many lone parents neither maintenance nor earnings are able to provide reliable and adequate incomes without supplementation from the state. Nevertheless there is now some concern as to whether the current structure of benefits provides the most appropriate support for lone parents. In particular there is anxiety about the consequences of long term receipt of income support and the extent to which lone parents may not have any clear incentives to support themselves through employment (A. McCashin, 1996 ). The implications of your analysis for advice work Media are a very important reserve for people all over the earth Men and women of all ages are represented in the media, mostly on television or in movies, as great parents, showing that this can condition can result in a winning family environment. In theory lone parents are helped if they wish to work but are not required nor positively encouraged to do so. The main form this help has taken has been through the provision of additional financial help to employed lone mothers, primarily through means tested benefits. References A. McCashin, I. C. (1996 ). Lone mothers in Ireland: a local study. Combat Poverty Agency. Glass, R. A. (1977). Lone parenting: an exploratory study. Macquarie University. Joe Hudson, B. G. (1993). Single parent families: perspectives on research and policy. Thompson Educational Pub. Parrish, M. (2009). Social Work Perspectives on Human Behaviour. McGraw-Hill International. Read More