I really enjoyed the conversation we had the other day in class about the stereotypes surrounding single parents. To take this a step further though, I’m also wondering how this relates to race. Women already presumably “made a mistake” when they are seen as single parents. Does the judgment increase further depending on race? I think the answer is yes. In films we are shown time and time again that women in different races and cultures are discriminated against. However, men are looked at as a heroes. They are the powerful father who stepped up to the plate in order to care for their child. Why is it that we have this double standard in our society?
Here you’ve raised an interesting question about looking at not only the gender of the single parent, but also at their race. Considering the stereotypes that people have regarding different races, I could see how it could hugely effect the way we look at a single parent. For example, people who see an African American or Hispanic single mother might be quicker to negatively judge than a person seeing a White single mother. But, this judgment can also be influenced by any number of ulterior misconceptions we have about a given race or culture.
However, here you’ve mentioned that a single fathers are viewed as heroes which I think, although sometimes accurate, is not always the case. A single male parent can be seen just as negatively as a single female parent. Just because the male has taken on the responsibility of taking care of the child does not make him a hero, but often he is a victim of circumstance. I feel that a single father can just as easily be the subject of negative stereotyping as women. He may be thought of as irresponsible for putting the woman he had the child with in such a situation, or people might even assume he unsuited to care for the child on his own.
That being said, I also think it is possible for a single mother to be seen in a positive light, if she is able to fully care for the child and take on the responsibility in a mature and nurturing way she might be seen as a hero just as you’ve described a single father.
Although I do agree that there is a huge stigma surrounding single mothers, I do not think it is fair to say that a single father is necessarily seen as a hero.
Men and women can both be placed into these situations and there are successful and unsuccessful versions of both stories. In order to get away from these double standards we as a society need to stop immediately stereotyping these kinds of situations, but instead look at each situation within its own context.