Over the last few decades, the number of single parent families has increased dramatically. As a result of out-of-wedlock births, separation and divorces, the proportion of single parent family groups has increased from ten percent to over 30 percent today (Garis 1082). With its impact on the parents, their children and the society in general, the phenomenon of single parent families needs to be considered from multiple perspectives. In this paper, the issue of single parent families will be examined in the follow ways:
Macro-level: A broad examination of single parent families in relation to the major structures and institutions of society;
Micro-level: Patterns of social interactions at the individual level with a focus on a specific single parent family; and
Theoretical perspectives of functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism.
At the macro level, the topic of single parent families is examined in its relationship to the various institutional structures such as the government, businesses and community organizations. One of the critical challenging issues confronted by single parent families is their comparative poverty to two-parent families. According to the 1994 Kids Count Data Book, "the poverty rate of single parent families is 42 percent, compared to eight percent for two-parent families" (cited in Garis 1084). Single parents' efforts to improve their economic circumstances for their families are often constrained by the negative pressure imposed by the institutions in society (Howe and Pidwell 169). The adverse effects of these institutions on the well-being of these families will be examined in greater detail.
In recent years, the government's public policy has shifted from providing single parents with the freedom to decide whether to work (or not to work to provide direct care to their children) to compelling them to participate in the work force. The replacement of the Aid to Famil...