Single Parent vs. Dual Parent Homes

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Single parent homes face more obstacles than dual partner homes. In a dual-partner home, the responsibilities of raising children are shared, whereas in a single-parent home, all responsibilities are on the sole provider, which is extremely overwhelming. Victoria Thompson analyzes single-parent homes and the hardship navigating this lifestyle. Thompson’s article, as well as readings from class support that single parent homes face a variety of challenges and disadvantages such as financial stress, weakened relationships, and an overload of tasks. I argue that children raised from single-parent homes are not only at a disadvantage, but also this lifestyle can be detrimental to child development. As a single parent, the financial stress of being the sole provider has a negative affect on the family. Single-parent homes with children are more likely to live in poverty than coupled families. According to Risman, “In 2000, 6 percent of married couple families with children lived in poverty, compared with 33 percent of female householders with children.” This statistic shows the shockingly high percentage of female householders with children living in poverty. The sole provider in a single parent home often does not have the ability to work a full time job or rather obtain a job with a high paying salary. Risman states, “Women who become single mothers are especially likely to have inadequate wages… because the shortage of publicly subsidized child care makes it difficult for them to work full time.” Although single parent households with the provider working full time has a much higher chance of not living in poverty, working full-time, as Thompson states in her article, leaves less time to spend with your child. This leads to my next point. Financial stress can also lead to improper child development, education, and social exposure. To give a hypothetical example,
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