Introduction
The single motherhood is one of the tendencies of modern time. The institute of marriage has undergone significant changes. The women tend to be careful in deciding to get married. There are several reasons for this. However, the scholars indicate to the controversy around the unwillingness of the low-income mothers to get married as the marriage can help them to achieve a higher level of welfare. The aim of this essay is to give a reflection on the analysis presented in the article Few Good Men: Why Poor Mothers Stay Single by Kathryn Edin.
The Reasons for the Increase in Single Motherhood
The single motherhood among the poor is an urgent issue in society. I think that the reasons for this phenomenon can be found in the social and economic situation in low-income neighborhoods. Kathryn Edin presents her findings on the reasons for the significant increase in the single motherhood in her article Few Good Men: Why Poor Mothers Stay Single.
The author states that, in general, poor women are reluctant to marry because they think that they are more able to provide financial security and stability to their children and themselves. I think that the marriage is still considered by the poor women as an important step in life. This is because the status of the married woman changes her duties, and she becomes considered differently in the eye of the public.
We can see from Edin’s article that the majority of the interviewed women have said that it is much easier to cope with the cheat of the boyfriend than with the unfaithfulness of husband. It is obvious they do not believe that the marriage will provide them with financial security and will improve their economic situation. In this respect, the contradiction is obvious as the statistics show that, indeed, the marriage improves the financial position.
I agree with the women interviewed by the author of the article. I think that the poor neighborhoods are the areas characterized by the high level of unemployment, crime, and drug-taking. The women just think that it is hard to find a good man there. That is why they prefer to stay on their own and to keep everything under control by themselves instead of sharing this responsibility with someone.
Besides, single mothers fear that their husbands will abuse their children. Some women admitted that their ex-husbands abused them while they were pregnant. Such kind of experience, undoubtedly, influences the women’s attitude to marriage, and most of them prefer to remain unmarried than to go through this once again.
In my opinion, the article by Kathryn Edin is rather useful for the sociological study as well as for the analysis of the reasons for single motherhood among the poor. Besides, I think that the article provides a useful insight into the expectations of women from marriage. The author tried to describe their attitude to the marriage and explain their understanding of the “right” man.
To sum up, all the above mentioned, it should be said that the problem of single motherhood is one of the most urgent issues in sociology. The scholars investigate the roots of this social phenomenon and try to explain why women do not want to get married. The article by Kathryn Edin presents the findings of her research on the reasons for single motherhood among the poor.
She indicates to the women’s lack of trust that the men will secure their welfare as one of the most important factors. I understand the concerns of these women, and I think that it is the task of the government to change the situation by facilitating employment, education, and maintaining social security.