Students' Perceptions of Single Parents and Social Injustice: A Women's Issue

Abstract

This study examined graduate social work students' perceptions of vulnerable populations. The results suggest that although the students were able to identify oppression as a factor in the lives of women and other at-risk populations, for the most part, their perceptions of single parents underscored the belief that the life conditions of femaleheaded families are the consequence of individual choice, rather than of societal arrangements that have a disproportionately negative impact on women.

Negative Perceptions of Never-Married Custodial Single Mothers and Fathers: Applications of a Gender Analysis for Family Therapists

“…In addition to these findings Ganong et al (1988) also documented negative descriptions of single mothers' morals, which included having "unconventional" attitudes and being "liberal and promiscuous" (p. 338). These results are consistent with more recent research that finds that single mothers are viewed more negatively than other groups of parents (Bennett & Jamieson, 1999;Ganong & Coleman, 1995;Rhodes & Johnson, 2000).…”

“…For example, researchers examined the beliefs of undergraduate students about different types of families (i.e., remarried, married, divorced, widowed, or never-married) and found that never-married parents were perceived less positively than all of the other groups of parents (Bryan, Coleman, Ganong, & Bryan, 1986). Furthermore, Rhodes and Johnson (2000) studied societal perceptions that are held about marginalized groups of individuals (e.g., people of color, women, and single parents) using a sample of social work graduate students. These researchers found that students perceived that each of the groups experienced oppression with the exception of single parents.…”

“…Did the participants in the Bryan et al (1986) and Rhodes and Johnson (2000) studies truly describe a genderless single parent or do their responses reflect an assumption on the gender of the single parent? Additionally, the high prevalence of single mothers as compared to single fathers (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009) may contribute to 28 A. R. Haire and C. R. McGeorge participants in these studies envisioning the genderless single parent as a single mother.…”

“…Researchers suggest that societal perceptions of never-married single mothers are primarily negative and focus on what is "wrong" with single mothers (Rhodes & Johnson, 2000). In particular, researchers have found the negative attributes assigned to single mothers include being unhappy, deviant, troubled, and having poor child rearing abilities (Ganong & Coleman, 1995;Ganong, Coleman, & Riley, 1988;Jarrett, 1994Jarrett, , 1996.…”

Against All Odds: Resilience in Single Mothers of Children with Disabilities

“…Even when they are acting in opposition to the dominant images, mothers are penalized for their efforts. Social workers and other professionals continue to perceive lone mother families to be victims of their own choices, and thus, their interactions with single mothers are more punitive, rather than supportive (Rhodes & Johnson, 2000;Schmitz, 1998). It remains difficult to challenge the belief that problems experienced by single mothers are a result of inequitable social polices, and far easier to retain beließ that locate the problem within mothers' poor decision-making.…”