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Jalen Camper

December 2, 2017

Professor Cassel

Research Paper

Illegitimate Child Birth

Illegitimacy brings three types of problems for our country: Child neglect/abuse,

dependency on welfare, and crime. Todays cultural appropriation is single-parent housing and

early non-marital childbirth. Leading to my main question, What effects does single-parenting

have on our youth and our society? In 2013 nonmarital births accounted for 41 percent of all

births in the United States. (Bowman) Until efforts are made to contain unwanted children, the

numbers will only continue to rise, and our future depends on the growth of our upcoming

generation. Erosion of marriage and parenthood has been accompanied by a increase in various

crimes, dependency on welfare, and child neglect/abuse.

Our society lacks the courage to address the link between poverty and single-parent

households. It is our youths future that is at risk. As a result, our lives are affected from this as

well. Children in non-intact families face high risk to poverty throughout some point during their

childhood. 68 percent of the children in non-married households have at least experienced

poverty one time in their lifetime. (citation 3). The other 12 percent are the children in intact

marriages. Most children in America who live in a single-parent household experience physical

abuse. Children in the U.S who have experienced physical abuse within their single-parent
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housing, estimates to about 323,000 children. (citation 4) Making out to be about 58 percent of

the children who live in the U.S. Traditionally, developmental models of parenting and

externalizing behavior are not taken into consideration, the significant cultural influences

experienced by children of minority status.

The absence of true marriage only continues to cycle amongst those of sing-parent

households is welfare dependency. Women who give birth outside a marriage are more likely to

go on AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children). AFDC is a federal assistance program

to children whose families have low or no amount income at all. The AFDC was created by the

Social Security Act (SSA), and about 72 percent of single mothers, seventeen years of age or

below, received Aid to Families with Dependent Children (Baskerville). With combined efforts

of longer dependency and earlier access has increased the total AFDC costs per household from

25 percent to 30 percent. Access of dependency at the age of 17 teaches them nothing but bad

habits early. Letting our generation wander with no guidance. During the timeframe of 1960-

2016 the percentage of children living in families with two both parents decreased from 88

percent of the country to only 69 percent (citation 4), a minor increase from 8 percent to 23

percentiles of children living with only their mothers. According to the statistics, the number for

children living with only their mother nearly tripled in size. Lastly those not living with either

parent increased slightly from 3 percent to 4 percent. (Bowman)

In conclusion, issues involving a combination of American poverty and crime are

complex. There will never be a simple solution or answer. Yet it is a big problem within our

neighborhoods, its been culturally accepted, as well as overlooked. As a result, single-parenting

and illegitimate childbirth will only rise in numbers. It is at an all time high, and if not acted

upon, will hurt our youths future. We dont want a generations potential to end up dependent on
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welfare, crimes, or even incarcerated. Neglecting family structure our children need for the

development of their future. Before we make an effort to change the situation, we first must lead

and influence our future in the right direction.

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Works Cited

Baskerville, Stephen. "Is There Really a Fatherhood Crisis?" Independent Review, vol. 8, no. 4,

Spring2004, pp. 485-508. EBSCOhost,

ezproxy.wittenberg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d

b=a9h&AN=12656918&site=ehost-live.

Bowman, Shanthy A. and Ellen W. Harris. "Food Security, Dietary Choices, and Television-

Viewing Status of Preschool-Aged Children Living in Single-Parent or Two-Parent

Households." Family Economics & Nutrition Review, vol. 15, no. 2, July 2003, pp. 29-

34. EBSCOhost,

ezproxy.wittenberg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d

b=a9h&AN=12812852&site=ehost-live.

Single Moms Equal Child Abuse and Neglect? The New Family Circle,

www.life360.com/blog/single-moms-equal-child-abuse-and-neglect/.

Super. New Study: Child Abuse Down, but Kids in Single Parent Families Far More Likely to

Be Abused. NPO, nationalparentsorganization.org/blog/6210-new-study-child-abu-

6210.