As the chart and the link posted above show that as the number of single mothers in the United States has soared and the cost of living has increased, more and more single mothers have embraced the house sharing arrangement. According to this article, the house sharing arrangement not only eases the living burden of single mothers but also help them to feel less lonely. When this arrangements works, it can benefit the children as much as the mothers. Having another adults in the home is very helpful to the kids since a second adult can balance out the first one, for example, their weaknesses and bad moods. Moreover, research shows that moving in and out of too frequently can be harmful to children since it is necessary to offer children a sense of security and let them know that there is a “family” that they are able to count on.
This article reminds me of what we read from Okin’s Justice, Gender, and The Family. The Author Okin argues that any just society must start with the family — and can only happen when the family is just. Currently, the unequal sharing between the sexes of family responsibilities is one of the unjust issue that needs to be solved. “The standard of living of divorced women and the children who lived with them plummets after divorce, whereas the economic situation of divorced men tend to be better than when they were married,” (Okin, 4). Clearly, as I mentioned previously, the house sharing arrangement becomes popular since it made two singles mothers share the burden together. Moreover, as Okin argues that: “we are not born as isolated, equal individuals in our society, but into family situation: some in the social middle, some poor and homeless, and some supper affluent, some to a single or soon-to-be-separated parent, some to parents whose marriage is fraught with conflict, some to parents who will stay together in love and happiness,” (Okin,16) Clearly, families which parents are of the same gender is different from the others. Currently about 120,000 women across the United States are registered to share housing. Since families are almost all still thoroughly gender structured institutions and have vast influence on the moral development of children, do you agree or disagree that the gender structure of this new type of family can be regarded as equal? Will a new and special family like this influences the moral development of children?
For it to be equal wouldn't we need to see men in the picture as well? It may be great for women to share the burden with each other, but the fathers of these children as not sharing any burdens and are free to do what they please, often with beneficial outcomes for their careers. So can we consider this equal if men are not involved in sharing the burden?
ReplyDeleteThis is not equal if men are not involved. The research shows that men benefit more and suffer less burden after divorce. Since it is hard to change the current situation, it might be the wise choice for women to share the burden together. Even though it is still women who share women's burden and to take men's responsibilities, we should still encourage this arrangement as long as women's lives can get better.
DeleteI think that this sounds very equal. First of all, it is beneficial to the child and the parent. Second, it is allowing the mother to make the choices that she wants. it is significantly more equal than, say 50 years ago. it would have been extremely odd for women to do this back then. but today it is being given research and thought and being accepted. that alone makes it equal in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Adriana, this arrangement not only provides opportunities for the mother to choose a better way of living but also benefits those children by offering them the sense of security. Since the society has developed dramatically, I think more and more people will encourage this new way of living.
DeleteI do not think that this can be regard as equal because the great majorities of children grow up in a house with a father and a mother. With a child being raised by two women it believe it will be looked upon as less than equal. This will influence the childs moral development in a very different way than children with a mother and father. I believe children need both a father and mother figure in their life to be well developed. Fathers have the ability to teach children things about morals that women do not and vis-a-vis
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that there will be differences between children that are raised up by both mother and father and by two mothers. The society that we are living right now cannot make sure that all children are raised up by both mother and father since divorce has prevailed. For those children who live in divorced families, in my opinion, it is better for them to be raised by two mothers than one.
DeleteComing from divorced parents, I agree that it is easier on the men as Women regularly bear the brunt of childcare and often have become housewives with no career currently bringing in money. If two mothers makes this easier, I do not see why this shouldn't be seen as a good thing, but it is not equal as many fathers do not share any responsibility.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you that women usually undertake more responsibilities after divorce and it is unfair to women to share the burden by themselves. Since it is more difficult to rebuild a family than two women signing the arrangement and sharing the burden together, this "new type of family" should therefore, be encouraged.
DeleteBased families that I know that are either divorced or have single mothers, I believe that women do typically have a more difficult time compared to men. I agree with James that women usually bear the brunt of childcare. As far as whether or not this is equal I am not convinced that it is entirely equal. To be equal men would have to share some of the burden in my opinion. I do believe that this is a good thing if it relieves the hardships for the mothers, but I think men do need to be factored in.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both you and James that the social construction of gender takes place in the institution of female parenting which makes the mothers share more burdens. And I also agree with your point that it can never be equal unless the fathers share the same amount of burdens like the mothers. Since the equality could not be achieved immediately, we should therefore encourage those single mothers to build new "families" with people who share the same background with them.
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