Single-Gender Parenting in America

Introduction In recent decades, homosexual relations have become commonplace in the United States. While gaining the ability to marry, some homosexual couples accept parenting for same sex and are given the right to adopt children. In the United States, it is thought that parental structure should include only mother and father (Biblarz & Stacey, 2009a), these practices have been criticized. Some of the reasons for opposing homosexuality include the fear of gender identity crisis that could lead to children's homosexuality and the idea that children of same-sex parents are affected by social problems.

The theme of child rearing is a big theme including the role of children based on socialization of children, role of parents, child raising, adoption, and sex. Sociological studies found that even at a young age, gender stereotypes have an effect on child rearing and may indicate gender wage disparities in child housework. Sociologists also studied whether homosexual couples would affect child rearing. Other topics being considered under family sociology are alternative family forms and singles. For example, many sociologists are studying the role and influence of families outside the nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, relatives etc. Discrimination of marriage has also been studied, especially with the rise of the divorce rate in the past several decades.

The number of single parent families led by single mother and single father is increasing. In 1970 there was a single parent of 3 million, 393,000 people, and in 2006 there were 10 million single parents and 2.3 million single parents (US Census Bureau, 2005). More than 60% of children in America are living their lives in their own parent families (Simmons and O'Connell, 2003). These families have many of the same problems with various families, such as the demand for high quality daycare, but there are some unique problems in a single parent household. Parents usually share responsibility and supervision for their children and encourage and train as necessary. If there is only one parent, that parent must be the only economical and child - rearing resource and must be expanded to cover both areas.