Family Settings
...and raise one or more children without the help of a spouse. However difficult the task, it can be done. Children reared in single parent households are often the victim of negative stereotypes. Also, it is a common belief that single parents are not as effective in raising children. These negative remarks support hurtful experiences that children in single parent houses experience. For example, the child who waits hours after school is dismissed for a parent, or the child whose parent can never make it to PTA meetings because they have to work. Parents are often overwhelmed with the job of parenting and feel extremely pressured to be good parents. This is true of both single parent households as well as two parent households. The trend of children growing up in single parent households holds strong in the United States, however there is no evidence that shows that children who grow up with only one parent are fare any worse than those who were raised with both parents. Since the 1970's the number of children living in single parent households has doubled (Divorce and Single Parenting), however, there are children who are living with both parents. Patrick D., a Haitian-American was raised in a two-parent household with immigrant parents, from Haiti, and an older sister and was socialized with the help of both parents. He is currently a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, and identifies himself as a proud Haitian. Living in the same dormitory allowed me to see parts of his culture and tradition, and this inspired me to learn more about his lifestyle. In an interview with Patrick, I was able to gain insight on his everyday experiences in a two-parent household compared to my own, growing up in a single parent household. Specifically, I hope to gain insight on how his family's values differ from those of my own, as an African- American...
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