Don't believe the hype! Women across the United States regardless of educational levels and incomes find themselves raising children alone. For mothers of color this phenomenon has become particularly acute. In many communities "unofficially" as many as 80% of the mothers within a census track are single mothers. |
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Although many of these women receive some support from the biological father and extended family members, an alarming number of these mothers do not receive any financial and or emotional support in raising their sons. While many of the statistics are daunting many mothers are successfully raising their sons in some of the toughest cities in America.
According to Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2005, released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August, 2007, there are approximately 13.6 million single parents in the United States today, and those parents are responsible for raising 21.2 million children (approximately 26% of children under 21 in the U.S. today).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau...
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Approximately 84% of custodial parents are mothers |
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16% of custodial parents are fathers |
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Of the mothers who are custodial parents: |
44% are currently divorced or separated |
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22% are married (In most cases, these numbers represent women who have remarried.) |
33% have never been married |
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1% were widowed |
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Of the fathers who are custodial parents: |
57% are divorced or separated |
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24% are currently married (In most cases, these numbers represent men who have remarried.) |
18% have never married |
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1% were widowed |
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79% of custodial single mothers are gainfully employed |
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50% work full time, year round |
29% work part-time or part-year |
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92% of custodial single fathers are gainfully employed |
74% work full time, year round |
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18% work part-time or part-year |
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27.7% of custodial single mothers and their children live in poverty |
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11.1% of custodial single fathers and their children live in poverty |
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31% of all single parents receive public assistance |
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Only 6% of single parents receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) |
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37.7% of custodial mothers are 40 years old or older |
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56% of custodial mothers are raising one child from the absent parent |
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44% have two or more children living with them |
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