Single parent: Difference between revisions

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A single parent is a parent with one or more children, who is neither married, nor living together with his or her spouses. Single mothers are far more common than single fathers. The definition of single parents may vary according to local laws of nations or provinces. But in typical cases, she or he may be so after her divorce, after giving birth to a child outside marriage, or after his or her spouse died.

Some single mothers may have chosen to be so voluntarily but for some others it is the result of accidental pregnancy, while not wanting, or not having the opportunity for abortion, and not wanting, or not having the opportunity for marrying or living together. Financial problems or other social circumstances often play a role. Especially in the US, teenage single mothers have become a serious social issue (see also teenage pregnancy).

This phenomenon has become one of the serious social issues in advanced countries. A single father is less common because, after divorce, more often the woman gets custody of the children, and in the case the mother has no (longer) a relationship with the father, it is even more likely that the child will stay with the mother; the father may even be out of view. A single father is considered much less commonly a social issue and gets far less support from governments. The typical case of turning into single fathers is probably his wife died or disappeared in other ways.

Sometimes, when a woman is pregnant, she and the father of the child feel the need to marry, or to marry earlier than planned, to avoid the shame and the legal complications of being a single mother. This is sometimes referred to as a "forced marriage". It has become more common in Japan and the United States because couples over there usually feel they have little reason to get married.

Single mothers in fiction

The Woman Who Did, a 1895 novel by Grant Allen
Bachelor Mother, a 1939 movie
Lonely Mom, a comic strip by Cecilia Torudd

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 [[es:madre soltera]]
-A '''single parent''' is a [[parent]] with one or more [[child]]ren, who is neither [[married]], nor [[living together]]. '''Single mothers''' are more common than '''single fathers'''. The definition of single parent may vary according to local laws of nations or provinces. But in typical cases, she may be so after her [[divorce]], after giving [[birth]] to a child outside [[marriage]], or after her [[spouse]] died.
+A '''single parent''' is a [[parent]] with one or more [[child]]ren, who is neither [[married]], nor [[living together]] with his or her spouses. '''Single mothers''' are far more common than '''single fathers'''. The definition of single parents may vary according to local laws of nations or provinces. But in typical cases, she or he may be so after her [[divorce]], after giving [[birth]] to a child outside [[marriage]], or after his or her [[spouse]] died.
 Some single mothers may have chosen to be so voluntarily but for some others it is the result of accidental [[pregnancy]], while not wanting, or not having the opportunity for [[abortion]], and not wanting, or not having the opportunity for marrying or living together. Financial problems or other social circumstances often play a role. Especially in the US, teenage single mothers have become a serious social issue (see also [[teenage pregnancy]]).
-This phenomenon  has become one of the serious social issues in advanced countries. A ''single father'' is less common because, after divorce, more often the woman gets [[child custody|custody]] of the children, and in the case the mother has no (longer) a [[Personal relationship|relationship]] with the father, it is even more likely that the child will stay with the mother; the father may even be out of view. A single father is considered much less commonly a social issue and gets far less support from governments.
+This phenomenon has become one of the serious social issues in advanced countries. A ''single father'' is less common because, after divorce, more often the woman gets [[child custody|custody]] of the children, and in the case the mother has no (longer) a [[Personal relationship|relationship]] with the father, it is even more likely that the child will stay with the mother; the father may even be out of view. A single father is considered much less commonly a social issue and gets far less support from governments. The typical case of turning into single fathers is probably his wife died or disappeared in other ways.
-Sometimes, when a woman is pregnant, she and the father of the child feel the need to marry, or to marry earlier than planned, to avoid the [[shame]] and the legal complications of being a single mother. This is sometimes referred to as a "forced marriage".
+Sometimes, when a woman is pregnant, she and the father of the child feel the need to marry, or to marry earlier than planned, to avoid the [[shame]] and the legal complications of being a single mother. This is sometimes referred to as a "forced marriage". It has become more common in Japan and the United States because couples over there usually feel they have little reason to get married.
 ==Single mothers in fiction==

Revision as of 02:22, 12 June 2003

Single mothers in fiction

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