The strengths and resilience of African American single mothers has historically changed families and communities for the better. However, African American single mothers are often a vulnerable population at risk for poor physical and mental health with negative outcomes outweighing both their female and male counterparts (Hatcher, Rayens, Peden, & Hall, 2012). There has been numerous race comparative self-esteem studies and research on the effects of single parenthood on child and adolescent self-esteem. Yet few studies focus on the factors that impact both positive and negative self-esteem exclusively in African American mothers apart from their children. Most of what we know about the self-esteem of African Americans comes from children …show more content…
Stigmatization and labeling of these women as deviant “welfare queens” that contribute to the increase in poverty rates and abuse of welfare aid in American society have also continued to be popular perspectives of this population(Hill, 2010). Differing from the American value of the traditional two-parent home, “single motherhood” often has a negative connotation in society (Dowd, 1997). African American single mothers in particular face discrimination, stereotypes, and negative attitudes throughout our society, which create a significant source of stress in their daily lives (Cozzarelli, Wilkinson, & Tagler, 2001; Klonoff & Landrine, 2000). Multiple oppressions such as sexism, racism, and classism are associated with chronic stress (Avison, 1995), depression, and poor self-esteem, and are experienced by African American single mothers in disproportionately higher levels. Higher rates of poverty, higher unemployment, lower than average earnings, overrepresentation in low-status occupations, lower than average levels of education, and poorer housing conditions are the common experiences of these single mothers (Brown & Moran, 1997; McAdoo, 1988; Napholz, 1999; Peden, Hall, Rayens, & Beebe, …show more content…
Low-income single African American mothers of young children report higher levels of stress, more depressive symptoms, and are less likely to receive services than their White counterparts (Chazan-Cohen et al., 2009; Courtney & Barth, 1996). African American single mothers are also less likely to seek mental health services thus facing increased psychological distress and anxiety caused by the social and economic challenges they face on a daily basis (Davies, Avison, & McAlpine, 1997; Murry, Bynum, Brody, Willert, & Stephens,
The author discusses racial, gender, and income inequalities in a way that is fair to both sides of the argument. Potts discusses the inequalities that these women are faced with and explains the research behind it. In this article, Potts explains the scientific research that is done to explain the role that poverty, lack of education, partaking in unhealthy behaviors and how these aspects influence the overall quality of life of certain individuals. This essay discusses the life of a young woman whose life was cut short. Crystal Wilson was a normal individual who passed away unexpectedly in her sleep.
The United States maternal care is on par with many third world countries, and among maternal mortality, African-American women are the ones most
In Hill’s (1972) seminal work, The Strengths of Black Families, on African American families, he states that “strong kinship bonds, a strong work orientation, adaptability of family roles, a strong achievement orientation, and a strong religious orientation were characteristics that have been functional for their survival, development and stability”. Hill (1999) states that strong kinship ties are the greatest enduring family qualities and are imbedded in West African cultural values. This strong kinship connection encompasses the significance of extended family, which is inclusion of fictive kin as family, the high value placed on children, and honor and respect for older adults (Billingsley, 1992).
Alarmingly, African American men make up 6% of the general population, but they represent 50% of the prison community (Perry & Bright, 2012). Despite the atrocious effects of incarceration, African American boys feel that imprisonment is a way of life given the prevalence in their environments (Perry & Bright, 2012). The Bureau of Statistics (2011) reported that by the end of 2010, the African American prisoner population consisted of 3,074 prisoners per 100,000 while the Caucasian prisoner population consisted of 459 prisoners per 100,000; thereby making African American males seven times more distinguishable in the U.S. correctional system. Evidence shows that many African American children have incarcerated fathers but are hesitant about discussing its effects on their lives (Geller, 2009). The African American community cycle of incarceration is at an incline, therefore parental incarceration is highly suggested in screening assessments for therapy (Perry & Bright,
Children of any culture require nurturing in order to grow to become a productive member of society. However, In African American communities often children are left to fend for themselves. In a one-parent home all responsibilities fall on the shoulders of one person, by default creating a
The treatment suggested is strengths- based perspectives. Psychosocial competence, a strengths-based approach, and the Black feminist perspective offer the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of the intersection and influence of oppression among depressed African American women and provide a useful framework for mental health practice with this population. Psychosocial competence is a multifaceted configuration that includes a set of self- attitudes, world attributes, and behavioral attributes that are designed to promote effective functioning in human beings by focusing on their unique coping and adaptive patterns, actual or potential strengths, natural helping networks, life experiences, and environmental resources as major instruments of
There is increasing evidence on mental health disparities. Studies show that minorities are more likely to delay or not seek mental health care, receive less adequate care, and/or terminate care sooner (McGuire et al., 2008). These disparities in receiving care arise due to
According to the Pew Research center twenty three percent of children under the age of eighteen live in single parent homes (Kramer 2019). Unfortunately, there is a certain stigma surrounding single parents, especially single mothers that suggests a lack of caution or responsibility. A lack of another parent does not mean that the child is any less loved or that the current and present parent is not capable of providing for their child. According to hooks, the traditional family creates a dependency and power imbalance “that became, and is, the breeding ground for abuses of power” (hooks 2020, 130). This power imbalance is a precise example of a social structure that hooks, a strong feminist, is against.
Even in interracial environments such as schools, that interracial contact with whites did not negatively affect Blacks’ self-esteem. The above findings are especially pertinent to the study of African American women and self-esteem. Black women were once predicted to have low self-esteem because scholars thought they internalized demeaning messages of themselves and measured themselves against a white
Martha Peraza SOC 3340 Inequality in Education California State University, Bakersfield Abstract In the United States, there exists a gap in equality for different demographics of students. The factors contributing to educational disadvantages include socioeconomic struggles, gender of students, language or culture, and particularly for the scope of this paper, race.
This African American family suffered breakdown due to father’s inability to fix his way of life and play his part to contribute to strengthen his family. Statistics show that African American children are 3 times more likely to be poor compared to whites when raised by a single mother. In the case of Ebony, she believes she can soon rise to a better life style due to her education and stable job despite being a single mother.
Much like the title explains, in the article “In Defense of Single Mothers”, Katie Roiphe talks about the misconception that all
It can be inferred that when a single parent takes on a child, they think of any given situation that life might throw their way and prepare and plan for the worst so the kid does not end up back in Foster Care. an article even states “What prospective single parents do need, however, is a lot of self-reflection. Because it’s hard to raise a child alone, prospective parents should take stock of several key issues, including finances, lifestyle and support. Ms. Hochman offers these questions to consider, especially for singles, before plunging into the adoption process” (Adoption and the single guy, Lisa Beach). This evidence shows that when adopting singles are questioned and checked to make sure they are fit to care for a child.
Around half of all children born nowadays are expected to spend some time in a single parent family. Since before, people always have a perspective that children who growing up in single parent family are different compared to children who growing up with both a mother and a father. Being raised by only one parent seems unbearable to many people and up until now it has become more frequent. Single-parent families are much more common today (Parke, 2003). However, during these days, children who raised up from single parent families tend to become successful, emotionally stable and well manner.
For Better or Worse, Not So Much. The lack of opportunities for a beneficial marriage (I’m aware of the absence here of discussing the connection of marriage to love and romance) is obviously a challenging issue for single mothers. In spite of the reshaping of our cultural sand piles about love, sex, and relationships, the legal and emotional ties of marriage still play significant roles in the well being of children. A marriage, for all of its shortcomings, can offer at least the possibility of a more stable family life. Consider that more than 40 percent of single-mother families are poor compared to only 6 percent of married couples with children.