Children who are raised by single parents can be just as progressive Essay

Children who are raised by single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social and behavioral skills as those who are raised by both parents - Essay Example Single parenthood is on the rise across the globe resulting in mixed reactions pertaining to the stability of children raised by single parents. The high prevalence is attributable to a multitude of factors; for example, the rampant spread of feminist ideologies, technological advancement and high divorce rate (Ellwood & Jencks 1). Feminist ideologies advocate for women empowerment achieved through financial liberation, and disputing socially constructed gender based stereotypes that confine women to specific social roles. The modern, liberated woman defies traditional social expectations whereby, marriage becomes less of a priority as the focus shifts to career development. In addition, these women are free to express their sexuality openly; for example, pre-marital sex and having children out of wedlock is now common and met with minimal disapproval by the society (Ellwood & Jencks 4). In some cases, these women explore alternative methods of having children on their own such as ad option or procuring the services of fertility specialists trained to perform artificial inseminations. Technological advancements targeting reproductive health have made the latter possible. Finally, the high divorce rate also contributes to the rise in single parenthood. Initially, courts required proof of infidelity, neglect or abuse to dissolve a marriage. This is not the case in contemporary society whereby, legislative directives approve no-fault divorces (divorces based on irreconcilable differences) (Ellwood & Jencks 5). In â€Å"Resilience and Vulnerability†, authors Hetherington & Elmore (182-212) discuss the role of resilience in influencing positive development of children raised by single parents. Resilience refers to an individual’s ability to cope and adapt to changes in their physical and social environment. Hetherington and Elmore infer that parenting styles adopted by parents function to build or destroy a