Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

First Comes Junior In a Baby Carriage (4 in 10 Births by Single Moms)
MSNBC Newsweak ^ | 6 Dece,ber 2--6 | Debra Rosenberg and Pat Wingert

Posted on 11/26/2006 5:02:22 AM PST by shrinkermd

....More American women than ever are putting motherhood before matrimony. New data released by the Centers for Disease Control show that nearly four in 10 U.S. babies were born outside of marriage in 2005—a new high. These unwed moms aren't all teens—last year teen pregnancies fell to their lowest levels in 65 years. Some—like 44-year-old Mary Lee MacKichan, who used a gay friend as a sperm donor—are professional, older women who want to have babies before their biological clocks run out, but most are low-income twentysomethings. (Unwed births among 30- to 44-year-olds are up 17 percent since 1991; among those 25 to 29, they're up 30 percent.) And some 40 percent of those moms aren't going it alone—they're cohabiting, at least for a while. That's creating a major shift in what a generation of children are coming to call a family. "Marriage is still alive and well, but it has a lot of competition," says Wellesley College sociologist Rosanna Hertz, author of "Single by Chance, Mothers by Choice."

Ironically, sociologists say, marriage may be on the decline precisely because it has become so idealized. People expect more from marriage than they did a century ago, when it was mainly a practical arrangement to provide financial stability for women and a place to raise children. "Now it's not only love and romance but also self-fulfillment and personal growth," says Pamela Smock, professor of sociology at the University of Michigan. Since there's no longer much of a stigma attached to getting pregnant outside of marriage, many couples have replaced "shotgun weddings" with "shotgun cohabitations

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: genx; moralabsolutes; mothers; reasons; single
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 441-460 next last
To: Accygirl
Vinnie, who keeps up my Mercedes, is clearing that sum easy. Sorry to say to the MBA at 28, the same educated guy is not looking for a 28 year old, but a 20 year old. Remember, children are a blessing, and to be cherished.
41 posted on 11/26/2006 8:15:45 AM PST by Lewite (Praise YAHWEH and Proclaim His Wonderful Name! Islam, the end time Beast-the harlot of Babylon.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: I still care

Well, there's always Swift's solution.


42 posted on 11/26/2006 8:21:07 AM PST by skepsel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: ByDesign; Accygirl

43 posted on 11/26/2006 8:28:21 AM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Accygirl

Sounds good to me but you forgot the part about keeping the house clean (grin).


44 posted on 11/26/2006 8:29:05 AM PST by skepsel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Accygirl

Anything that breaks up the family unit is ruining society, one unit at a time. Sorry, children were not meant to be produced with a turkey baster to make some selfish woman feel loved.


45 posted on 11/26/2006 8:35:39 AM PST by FReepapalooza
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: ByDesign
I meet women like you every day, just hitting their 40's, single and bitter because their "standards" are so high, no man could ever hope to reach them - and their relationships in ashes because they tried. They can't quite understand why they're still single. I hear them lament "He's such a nice guy, and like him, but...." - and it's always he doesnt make enough money, doesnt have enough of a status symbol job, doesnt want to be a mover and shaker on Wall Street, isn't motivated enough, isn't smart enough...whatever

I feel really torn about this sort of attitude. Yes, there are a lot of great guys out there that some women are writing off because they don't have the right job or the right attitude. But... I'm a software programmer and I'm fairly intelligent. I'm not sure how it would have worked out if I'd tried to marry a man who wasn't in a profession I could really look up to. Like an artist or something. For me, a big part of what I wanted in a husband is a provider so when we have kids I can stay home. I got that. My husband's an engineer, he's brilliant, and we'll be able to afford me raising the kids without many sacrifices.

Him being a good provider isn't why I love and respect him, but I don't know if I would have decided to love him if his job had been something I didn't respect.

46 posted on 11/26/2006 8:40:52 AM PST by JenB (36,006/50,000 - www.nanowrimo.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
(Many women even refer to their live-in partner as "fiancé" when a wedding date is nowhere in sight.)

I've noticed that this particularly form of self delusion has been growing in popularity. There are probably at least a dozen women in my graduate school class who have fiancees, despite not having rings or dates.
47 posted on 11/26/2006 8:48:34 AM PST by Old_Mil (http://www.constitutionparty.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: I still care
It is extremely difficult to raise a child alone, and these women will demand the government fill the traditional place of the husband. Aided and abetted by pathetic stories in the MSM.

Single women are already among the most solid supporters of the Democrats and the welfare state. Add more bastards to the mix, and that's sure to strengthen.

One could suggest this is why the Dems are so big on libertinism, but that might require too much foresight on their part.

48 posted on 11/26/2006 8:58:51 AM PST by Dumb_Ox (http://kevinjjones.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Accygirl
I very much doubt Vinny down at the local Jiffy Lube is making that much money.

Skilled manual labor is nothing to sneeze at. See Shop Class as Soulcraft

49 posted on 11/26/2006 9:11:22 AM PST by Dumb_Ox (http://kevinjjones.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Accygirl

Yeah - if daddy can get Skip his golf buddy to take another yes man on board.

Welcome to the real world. Here's real median MBA salaries
(and not out of school)


And guess how many .com MBA's are flipping burgers wishing they had a mechanics job



Consulting: $86,470
Energy/utilities: $79,190
Finance/accounting: $78,319
Health care/ pharmaceutical: $85,429
Manufacturing: $82,000
High technology: $87,645
Products/services: $77,128
Nonprofit/government: $63,167


50 posted on 11/26/2006 9:23:47 AM PST by spanalot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: MIchaelTArchangel

While it appears that women have all the choices, the problem started with the men. Men have always been the ones who wander, who find a new, younger wife or mistress - since the 6th generation, according to Genesis.

The difference is that women do no have to put up with the old, usual way. Then came no fault divorce, which was sold as a benefit to educated, independent women - which couldn't be worse for the family, the women and the children.

Men who live right in the first place - as men who would sacrifice anything for their wives, including their lives - don't have anything to worry about.


51 posted on 11/26/2006 9:27:47 AM PST by hocndoc (http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/index.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: hocndoc

Feminism is about giving Women what they want and getting Men to pay for it. That we continue to subsidize this nonsense, simply means twenty years from now we will have an explosion in the Crime rate. With no Fathers in the Families to train Boys how to be responsible this is the inevitable and proven result. How stupid are our Women? Listening to Feminists for 4 decades now.

Men are useful only as paychecks. Having children with a Gay Father as a donor. The ultimate in stupidity. Me Me Me the new moto of American Women. That is why they are not married. Their behavior repels Men. Men who want a stable, reasonable, and realistic partner.

What too many of these Women have done is simple. They slept with Bad Boys,Pick Up Artists, Players, and Thugs. Then when they hit their Thirties and are desperate for a child. They are looking for a Beta Male to rescue them. When no Man arrives to rescue them, they decide to have a child without a Father. Rather than face the consequences of their decisions, they could care less about the damage to "their" Child.

What is heart breaking to read. It the Divorce between two Lesbians. The 7 year old adopted girl told the primary caregiver, last Christmas. That she wanted "A real Dad and a Dog". Children need Fathers, we are now at 40% Bastard Children. Can we get to 80%? The number of Boys dropping out of School has reached Crisis numbers. Is anybody noticing?

The majority of these children are from Hispanic Mothers. What will happen when we give Amnesty to millions of illegal Aliens? A New Permanent Hispanic Underclass, to join the African American Underclass.


52 posted on 11/26/2006 9:47:53 AM PST by Khankrumthebulgar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers

I disagree.

Feminism started with the idea that women can become educated, own property, have custody of their own children, and vote.

While men had these powers and women did not, the ones who destroyed their families by promiscuity, violence, and abandonment were men. The good husbands and fathers were and are supportive of their wives and daughters and faithful to their marriages.

The minority of men who abused their power even after women began to be educated, employed, and more independent are the ones who led to no-fault divorce, abortion, and out of wedlock childbirth as unwise women adopted the bad male habits. The abuses - by both men and increasingly by women - resulted in more bad law and social customs - it was probably the custom first, then the law. And so on.

If men had remained faithful to the greatest Commandments, there'd be none of the problems we have today. Instead, some couldn't follow the Golden Rule in their own houses or the public square.


53 posted on 11/26/2006 9:48:51 AM PST by hocndoc (http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/index.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Khankrumthebulgar

You're describing what you are seeing, today, among a minority. See my post number 53 for what happened historically.

Those of us who live right will be an example for others, especially our children.

BTW, there are no bastard children, only illegitimate parents.


54 posted on 11/26/2006 9:52:49 AM PST by hocndoc (http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/index.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: mariabush

Hey it's easy! Men are morons, who needs 'em around anyway? At least that's the message from the cultural "elite". Ever notice how often men are portrayed in advertising as clueless twits who need a woman to explain things to them? Disgusting!


55 posted on 11/26/2006 9:56:14 AM PST by Frank_2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Old_Mil; shrinkermd

I think the "fiance" title has a couple of sources: a lot of these wome are too old to have "boyfriends," and most people know at a basic level that marriage is a better goal than living together.


56 posted on 11/26/2006 9:59:00 AM PST by hocndoc (http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/index.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Old_Mil

Its even worse than that in the hood.
Teenagers now describe themselves as"married"if they have had a boyfriend for more than a month or two.Its a pathetic attempt to delude themselves that they have the stability in their personal lives their parents never had.


57 posted on 11/26/2006 10:10:40 AM PST by Riverman94610
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Blacks 70 percent unwed births
Latino 46 percent


58 posted on 11/26/2006 10:36:11 AM PST by TomasUSMC ( FIGHT LIKE WW2, FINISH LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Accygirl

Good luck with that. My husband has an MBA and isn't making anywhere near that much money, and never has.


59 posted on 11/26/2006 10:42:19 AM PST by FauxBlonde
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: hocndoc
OK, I was shooting "off the cuff" and speaking of the 60's generation of militant gender feminists and their ilk--prior to that (say the suffrage movement) there were legitimate concerns, as you rightly point out.

OTOH, some of those earlier feminists were strongly pro-life. Not a thing to endear you to the sisterhood of today.

Cheers!

60 posted on 11/26/2006 11:47:52 AM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 441-460 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson