Athe Rise and Effect of Single Parent Families

The Rise and Effect of Single Parent Families Since 1970, our society has seen a shift in the family structure with an increase in single parent families in the United States. There are growing problems, which are affecting America; among these include the rise in single parent families. Most Americans would agree that part of their concerns for the nation is poverty, crime, and declining education. Children raised in single parent families are more likely to be involved in at least one of these issues, whether it’s as a child growing up or an adult that was raised in a single parent family. This research project will analyze what are the effects of the rise in single parent families, who are the individuals involved by race, class and region, and how does this family type relate to poverty, delinquency, and education. The United States does a census of the American population every ten years, which participation is mandatory by the U.S. constitution, so the most recent statistical information is the Census of 2000. There are approximately 198.4 million whites in America with different ethnicities of this 23.6% are unmarried mothers who have children and 8% are living under the poverty line. There are approximately 39.7 million African Americans. There are 68.2% of children who are born to unmarried black mothers, which is the highest out of all the ethnicities and 24% of blacks are living under the poverty line second highest to Native Americans of 27.2%. (United States Census Bureau, 2008) Single parent households increased from 9% in 1990 to %16 of all households by 2000. Also today 51% of marriages end in divorce. (LeBay, 2003) “There are ethnic differences in the prevalence of single-parent families. In 1999 the rate of single-parent families among black families was 56 percent; among Hispanic families, 32 percent; and among white families, 20 percent. Higher rates of black single-parent families result from higher rates of out-of-marriage adolescent

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