According to DeJean, McGeorge, and Stone (2012), findings from majority of the past research studies on the attitudes of the society towards single parents have been negative. The authors note that such negative perceptions are directed more toward single motherhood than single fatherhood.
Additionally, it is important to understand such attitudes, as they are likely to elevate the effects of single parenthood on children development. Axinn, Young-DeMarco, and Caponi Ro (2011) acknowledge the importance of assessing gender attitudes toward social behaviours.
Specifically, these authors note that gender based differences are critical in understanding the variations in parenting models. They also recognize the variations in gender based attitudes toward single parenthood. DeJean et al. (2012) acknowledge the dearth of research on gender based attitudes toward single parenting.
In reference to these authors, these attitudes do not seem to apply in the case of widowed partners.
In reference to a research undertaken by Bilbray and Stacey (2010), the authors argue that the society tends to pay high regard to children raised by both parents compared to those raised by single parents. In particular, their findings reveal that having two parents raise children has an impact on their development.
Similarly, the research by DeJean et al. (2012) reports that the attitudes toward single parenting are negative in regard to the parent’s stability and the personalities of the children. These arguments are based on the perceptions that children need both parents in a bid to obtain gender-inclusive support.
In this view, Biblarz and Stacey (2010) state that the society dictates that boys need masculine identity, while girls need to identify with women figures. The societal perceptions seem to argue that children experience poor development in the absence of such identities.
Such poor development is characterized by anti-social behaviours, crime, promiscuity, and early pregnancies among other issues.
Axinn et al. (2011), acknowledge that it is important to assess gender double standards in parenting patterns to establish whether the societal attitudes are actually true. The authors note that gender variations in social behaviours provide an in-depth understanding of the family structure and children’s upbringing.
DeJean et al. (2012) recognizes the relevance of studying the societal attitudes toward single parents as the number of single-parent headed homes has been increasing in the last decade.
Moreover, the authors state that studying the gender differences in perceptions is likely to justify the increased demand for therapists in single-parent headed homes. Biblarz and Stacey (2010) also acknowledge that most of the past research tend to exclude fathers as single parents.
In this regard, analysing the gender differences in perceptions is likely to include both male and female-headed single families. Moreover, the inclusion of fathers is likely to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the experiences of children raised by single fathers.
DeJean et al. (2012) also note that studying the perceptions of the society is likely to eliminate stigmatization toward single mother headed homes.
The aim of the current research is to determine whether there are gender based attitudes on the statement “one parent can bring up a child as well as two parents together”. Consequently, the research question for the study will be:
- Does gender play a role in people’s attitudes towards the statement “one parent can bring up a child as well as two parents together”?
References
Axinn, W. G., Young-DeMarco, L., & Caponi Ro, M. (2011). Gender double standards in parenting attitudes. Social Science Research, 40(2), 417–432.
Biblarz, T. J., & Stacey, J. (2010). How Does the Gender of Parents Matter? Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(1), 3-22.
DeJean, S. L., McGeorge, C. R., & Stone, T. (2012). Attitudes toward never-married single mothers and fathers: Does gender matter? Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 24(2), 121–138.