Wisconsin Bill Claims Single Moms Cause Child Abuse by Not Being Marri

1. 80

   Stacie Lposted 13 years ago

   Wisconsin Bill Claims Single Moms Cause Child Abuse by Not Being Married
   
   In Wisconsin, a state senator has introduced a bill aimed at penalizing single mothers by calling their unmarried status a contributing factor in child abuse and neglect.
   
   Senate Bill 507, introduced by Republican Senator Glenn Grothman, moves to amend existing state law by "requiring the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board to emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect."
   http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/wiscon … 00419.html
   
   I can't beleive the stupidity of his statement...many children of married parents are abused on a daily basis

   replyreport
   1. 59

      MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Technically, he's right.  Children of single mothers are at higher risk for abuse and neglect statistically.  But social workers already know that and it is already included in their training.
      
      There are all kinds of risk factors to abuse and neglect.  I know very few people who have none of them them present in their life.  I think there are more pressing risk factors that can be easily addressed.  Like drug and alcohol addiction, lack of formal education, and economic hardship.
      
      Forcing people to get married would just create family stressors... which is a much more serious risk factor in abuse/neglect cases than single parenthood.

      replyreport
      1. 63

         bgamallposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This idiocy won't pass.

         replyreport
   2. 82

      lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      What, no single dads?
      
      More misogyny from the party of hate.

      replyreport
2. 85

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   I don't know about statistics, but I think children who have to daily/nightly watch and listen to their dysfunctional parents fight, scream, hit, etc. have much more to suffer than a child of a single parent who is doing her best and may not have as much time with her child.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely not arguing that.  Risk factors are defined basically as any life situation that would cause undue stress on a child's primary caregiver(s).
      
      Single parenthood does fall under that. So do bunches of situations.
      
      It would also be blind of us to dismiss it as untrue- because it is true-it just happens to be being used as political propaganda.

      replyreport
      1. 85

         rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         So, in essence, he is defining what a family should look like.
         With the definition you've given of risk factor, that would include a married couple as easily as it would a single parent. Then you have those who want to define what a married couple looks like. Risk factors don't cause child abuse and neglect. Risk factors don't cause diseases. There is risk in all life situations.
         ok, my 2 cents on this bill.

         replyreport
         1. 59

            MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, I think the bill is the one of the most ignorant bills ever proposed.  Likely for the same reasons you do. 
            
            I just don't think that ignoring a valid risk factor because someone ignorant is using it for a political platform is a good idea.
            
            It would be dangerous to claim that single moms aren't under stress and therefore more likely to be abusive/neglectful just to oppose an extremist.  Social workers use those risk factors to provide services to ease the stress and lessen the risks.  Public programs are also based on those same risk factors.
            
            Reality sucks, but sometimes you have to face unpleasant facts that make groups look bad so that you can address very real problems.
            
            The way this bill attempts to remedy those problems is unbelievable short-sighted but it doesn't mean there wasn't a problem to begin with.

            replyreport
3. 60

   SomewayOuttaHereposted 13 years ago

   ...my, my, my...yep looks like someone is trying to define family...and huh? only biological parents should raise children?...what an insult to all the step parents out there....not only are single parents being scrutinized, it looks like G/Ls and people who just don't want to be married are being excluded too...am i surprised?...and all of this coming from someone who has no children and has never been married...

   replyreport
4. 75

   Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

   Does that include couples who are not married, are still together and have children?

   replyreport