Stereotypes, stigmas and assumptions :(

Most people would agree that being a single parent is a tough job, yet there are still some stereotypes, stigmas and assumptions people make about this sub culture. For example, one’s first thought might be that a single parent made a mistake in having their child(ren). They “screwed up” as a teen and the child was unplanned and unwanted. This is not necessarily the case at all.

Another assumption might be that there are drugs or criminal offenses involved with the missing parent; or some sort of dramatic reasoning for why they are not a part of their child’s life. Perhaps they are just irresponsible, plain and simple. Or perhaps, there is a valid and legitimate reason for not being a good parent… an illness, a death?

People can even go as far as putting single parents into a box when it comes to values, beliefs and religion. A single mom walks into a Catholic church with two little kids and no father, and people assume she is divorced or had her children entirely outside the realm of marriage. From there, the judgments can flourish.

Another big stereotype against single parents is that they are uneducated and therefore unable to get a good job and make a decent salary. Even if a parent is young, if cannot be assumed they are of any less intelligence or education than any other parent.