An Analysis of Divorce and Single Parent Family Homes Using the Symbolic Interactionist Theory

Single-parent families have been the subject of many family studies for decades. During the course of history, the death of a parent was one of the major reasons for single-parent situations. There are other causes of single parent families, such as separation or neglect. There are some adults that choose a single-parent family structure because they want to adopt a child even though they do not have a partner. There is much debate surrounding the claim that children in single-parent family homes typically suffer from economic disadvantages and other struggles. Divorce is one of the main reasons for single parent families in the contemporary United States, and the cause for divorce can be linked to the symbolic interactionist theory.

Social Problem

Single parent family homes have increased in the United States over the past few decades. Since the 1960s, the number of children living with one parent has increased a great deal. In fact, Single parents have more than tripled in American households since 1960 (Mathur, Fu, and Hansen, 2013). According to the United States Census Bureau, the results of the 2010 United States Census showed that 27% of children live with one parent (2011). Single parent homes have become an accepted part of life in the United States, and the trend is spreading to other countries as well.

The mother of the child or children is usually the primary caregiver in this type of family structure, although there are some men who take on the responsibility of raising their children by themselves. While father are less commonly known as a primary caregiver to a child in a single parent family home, this situation continues to shift as more single dads have sole custody of their children due to the mother’s neglect, psychological problems, or death.

Analysis of the Problem

In today’s society, families with a single-parent structure face many challenges and obstacles that two-parent families simply do not face. Some of the challenges include a balance of work and home responsibilities, daycare expenses, and economic problems. In some situations, the parent can find themselves single almost overnight depending on the circumstances. Even though some single-parent circumstances can lead to a satisfying and successful childrearing experience, the fact remains that most of these households face their share of daily struggles.

The economic struggles of single-parent families are perhaps the biggest obstacle of all. According to Mathur, Fu, and Hansen, “single parent households exist in a different socioeconomic pool than married households” (2013). Single mothers, in particular, earn an amount of money that is well below what married mothers make. Mathur, Fu, and Hansen also point out that “married mothers earned a median family income of $80,000 in 2011, almost four times more than families led by a single mom” (2013). Furthermore, this difference persisted over the recent recession:

In 2007, a married mother earned an average income of $57,194, nearly double that of single moms. Even after the recession hit married couples the hardest, average real incomes of single moms were just 60 percent of married moms in 2012. Differences in incomes between single and married dads also persisted over the course of the recession. (Mathur, Fu, and Hansen, 2013)

The cause of this difference in income is most likely because of the difficulty in maintaining a full-time job while simultaneously managing children. Another cause could be because many single mothers have less education than married mothers, and they are likely to be younger in age as well.

Single parenting is a direct result of divorce, and this social problem affects the United States in many ways. The economic situations of single parent families are usually a cause for concern, and many single mothers rely on welfare and other government programs to care for their children. Many of these programs result in the recipients making more money than the taxpayers who work. According to Pavlich, “The Senate Budget Committee has released a report showing households living below the poverty line and receiving welfare payments are raking in the equivalent of $168 per day in benefits which come in the form of food stamps, housing, childcare, healthcare and more” (2012). Also, because non-welfare recipients pay taxes, their median wage is bumped down by quite a few dollars.

In addition to the economic problems that divorce causes in the United States, it also contributes to possible behavioral issues in the children. Many children of divorce need counseling in order to cope with the ramifications of one parent, possible poor living conditions, and less to eat. They are also subject to possible juvenile delinquency when they are teenagers.

Sociological Theory

A sociological theory that can be used to explain divorce as a cause for single-parent families is the symbolic interactionist theory. According to Gender, Theory, Definition, Development, Research, and Role, “symbolic interactionism has been an important theoretical perspective in family studies since its early development in the 1920s and 1930s” (n.d.). The symbolic interactionist theory says that people develop their personalities through interaction through others and through symbols with each other. The purpose of this is to define their selves.

Under the symbolic interactionist theory, divorce and single-parent family homes can be explained. The theory involves how people confer with others and social intercourse. When communication is compromised in a relationship between couples, the end result is usually a separation or even divorce. The theory explains that when one’s personality is not developed through symbolic behavior involving their partner, they will not be able to define themselves. This can lead to isolation, miscommunication, and the eventual breakdown of a marriage. Research that deals with family structure from a symbolic interactionist perspective suggest that gender roles affect spousal roles. External events such as employment and internal events such as births and deaths can also affect family role performance and create conflict, thereby resulting in clashing attitudes and eventually divorce.

References

Mathur, A., Fu, H., & Hansen, P. (2013, September 9). The Mysterious and alarming rise of single parenthood in America. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/09/the-mysterious-and-alarming-rise-of-single-parenthood-in-america/279203/

Newsroom. (2011, November 3). More young adults are living in their parents' home, Census Bureau Reports. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/families_households/cb11-183.html

Pavlich, K. (2012, December 7). "Poor" Households getting $168 in welfare per day from taxpayers. Townhall. Retrieved, from http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2012/12/07/poor_households_getting_168_in_welfare_per_day_from_taxpayers

Symbolic Interactionism And Family Studies. (n.d.). Gender, theory, definition, development, research, and role. Retrieved from http://family.jrank.org/pages/1677/Symbolic-Interactionism-Symbolic-Interactionism-Family-Studies.html