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Challenges for Single Black Mothers

Raising Teen Boys
Topics: Challenges, Parenting Words: 11590 Pages: 43

Introduction
Background of the Problem

Parenting adolescents is a challenging task in modern American society. The problem is

compounded when one is forced to raise such teenagers as a single mother. According to
Elliott, Powell, and Brenton (2015), recent statistics show that about half of the African
American children are raised by single parents. The study also indicates that 70% of single
parents are mothers. Johnsen and Friborg (2015) state that many single mothers are forced to
raise their children without the emotional and financial support from male partners who
fathered these children. Taking care of the family’s financial needs is challenging, but
Williams and Smalls (2015) explain that parenting goes beyond that. It also entails
understanding one’s children’s unique needs and addressing them in the best way possible.

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Some children are open with their parents and can express themselves effectively when
dealing with issues affecting them at school or home. Others prefer not to express their issues
to the parents. It largely depends on the relationship that has been developed between a parent
and a child (Cokley, Awosogba, & Taylor, 2014). A parent who spends most of the time
working to provide for the family may not have time to monitor their children’s trends and
behavioral patterns unless an issue is brought to their attention by a teacher or a neighbor. It
means that a child can deviate away from the standard norms and behavior expected by
society without the parent’s knowledge. Determining the experience of single mothers of
their relationship with their adolescent sons is important in this study.

The relationship that single mothers have when parenting adolescent sons is different from
that of adolescent daughters. According to Groh, Fearon, Jzendoorn, Bakermans‐Kranenburg,
and Roisman (2017), parenting a boy child is different from parenting a girl child. Leech
(2016) also notes that a female parent’s approach to parent an adolescent boy is different
from that which is taken when parenting an adolescent girl. As a child develops into an
adolescent stage, they experience physiological and emotional developments that may be
challenging for them to understand (Benner, Boyle, & Sadler, 2016). They begin to
understand their sexuality and struggle to deal with their emotions. At this stage, a teenage
boy would need the support of a father who understands this developmental stage based on
experience.
Maynard, Salas-Wright, and Vaughn (2015) explain that it is easier for a teenage boy to seek
help from an adult male than a female. Unfortunately, the majority of these single parented
young boys are cared for by their mothers. In such families, the only adult member of the
family is the female parent. Cohn’s (2016) report shows that the majority of these adolescent
boys raised by female parents rarely share their experiences with their mothers. They suffer
in silence and are easily convinced to join groups that may lead them astray. Parents come to
learn about these children’s problems when something serious has happened (Maudry-
Beverley, 2014). Others are forced to deal with the financial loss caused by the actions of
their children. In extreme cases, it is often too late for the parent to act when these children
ultimately lose their lives while engaging in dangerous activities due to peer pressure. The
ability of a parent to guide a child depends on the personal relationship between the two.

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The experience that these single African American parents go through can only be expressed
by the affected group. Barnett and Scaramella (2013) explain that it can be frustrating for a
single parent to learn that providing food, shelter, education, healthcare, and other basic
needs is not enough for parenting. Others are forced to take two or three jobs to make ends
meet, but that is not everything that the family needs. Her attention is equally needed,
especially when there is no other adult in the immediate family that can offer guidance to the
children (Hirsch, Dierkhising, & Herz, 2018). They have to find ways of balancing their
limited time between working several jobs a day and giving their adolescent sons the
attention they need. In this paper, the focus was to investigate single African American
females’ experience of being mothers to their adolescent sons.

Need for the Study

The chosen topic was relatively new in the field of parenting in American society. Scholars
have conducted broad studies on single parenting, as Weinrath, Donatelli, and Murchison
(2016) observe. Scholarly attention is yet to be given on the experience of single African
American female being mothers to their adolescent sons. This literature gap was addressed in
this study. According to Irvine, Drew, and Sainsbury (2013), studies indicate that over 25%
of African American females aged 22-44 are single mothers. 9% of white females in the same
age bracket are single mothers (Cooper & Norcross, 2016). It means that single parenting is
more common among African American females than it is among white females. It is
necessary to find ways to improve these parents’ experiences as the problem becomes more
prevalent among the targeted group (Cohn, 2016). As evident from the discussion above, this
study was not focused on fighting the increasing cases of single parenting, which is a
different but important topic.

The investigation looks at the experience of that these female parents have intending to
understand the challenges they have to deal with and ways of improving their experience.
These parents should not give up despite the psychological trauma they have to endure
(Pachankis, Hatzenbuehler, Rendina, Safren, & Parsons, 2015). However, they need some
form of support to overcome some of the painful experiences. Through this study, it was
possible to bring the attention of the American public to this issue through various forums to
find ways of improving the experience. A study conducted by Johnsen and Friborg (2015)
shows that most single mothers prefer having girls to boys. They believe that it is more
challenging to parent adolescent boys because of their rebellious nature. The negative attitude
that some of these parents have can worsen the experience and deny the affected children the
affection they need from the parent. They can easily become resentful adults who cannot
sustain meaningful relationships or avoid breaking the law (Cooper & Norcross, 2016).
Solving such social problems needs the attention of the American community.

Purpose of the Study

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The purpose of this research is to investigate how single African-American mothers

experience their relationship with their adolescent sons. According to a study by Slonim
(2014), single mothers find it difficult to parent their adolescent sons than to raise adolescent
girls. They went through the same stages that their girls are going through to easily relate to
the physiological and emotional changes they are going through. It is also easy for female
parents to talk about the sexual health and sexuality of their adolescent daughters, a very
important topic for adolescents (Williams, Ryan, Davis-Kean, McLoyd, & Schulenberg,
2017).

However, the same cannot be said for single mothers parenting adolescent sons. Snyder
(2016) believes that although American society has made significant steps in fighting
stereotypes and traditional concepts that made it a taboo for mothers to talk about sex with
their sons, it is still not easy for mothers to address sex-related problems with their sons.
Sometimes they know the topic is necessary, but they cannot talk about it. This study
identified the challenges that single go through and how it affects their ability to care for
these adolescents to become responsible and successful adults. Doody and Noonan (2013)
explain that society knows the problem exists, but the issue has not been given proper
attention, even among scholars. It is evident that promoting public discourse on this issue,
especially among scholars, can create avenues through which some of these single mothers
can be assisted in the upbringing of their adolescent sons.

Significance of the Study

This research is of significance to American society. According to Wu, Appleman, Salazar,

and Ong (2015), when parenting fails, it affects the entire community. In American society
today, juvenile delinquency may not be as bad as it was in the 1980s and part of the 1990s
(Leech, 2016). However, cases are still reported of adolescents who engage in the smuggling
of drugs, burglary, robbery, and other criminal offenses. In most of the cases, the victims of
such criminal acts are members of the public. Slonim (2014) argues that some male
adolescents engage in criminal acts because they sympathize with their single mothers who
have to work several jobs to provide for the family.

In their mind, they believe that engaging in such acts can help reduce the burden on their
parents, especially if they can get enough cash that makes it unnecessary to ask for the same
(Leech, 2016). The psychological trauma that some of these adolescents go through because
of a lack of support from parents can transform them into dangerous criminals in society. In a
study by Slonim (2014), most of the serial killers had unstable parenting. They grow up
harboring bitterness against a section of the society, believing it was responsible for the pain
they went through in their youth. They then try to revenge against these individuals. These
are common cases when adolescents go to school with guns and then kill their innocent
colleagues. Some of these cases are reported by the American media, while many others are
not (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). Failing to nurture these adolescent boys into responsible and
law-abiding men is a danger to American society.

Psychologists in institutions of healthcare and guidance and counseling teachers will find this
information critical in their fields. Stress-related health complications, such as high blood
pressure, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases, are becoming common in the United States
(Peleg, Vilchinsky, Fisher, Khaskia, & Mosseri, 2017). The African American females are
some of the worst affected group, as Ebert et al. (2015) admit. One of the primary causes of
stress among single parents is how to provide for the family while taking care of their
children’s social and emotional needs (Cooper & Norcross, 2016). This document will
provide important information on how psychologists can handle parents who are faced with
such challenges. It will provide ways in which these parents can be supported in their
parenting duties. Snyder (2016) explains that families that embrace specific religion may get
the support needed from their community members. Instead of bearing the psychological
burden alone, a parent can get the support of a church member to help address some of the
emotional needs of an adolescent son (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). Guidance and counseling
teachers will find the document important when trying to meet the social and emotional needs
of the adolescent boys at school. They will understand the factors that influence the
relationship between adolescents and adults in a social setting.

The findings of this paper will help conform or dispute the relevance of theories developed
by scholars in this field. Theories relating to single parenting and the unique challenges that
African Americans go through in this society have been developed by various scholars
(Williams & Smalls, 2015). However, it is important to appreciate that as society continues to
experience social, economic, political, and technological changes, some of these theories
become irrelevant (Cooper & Norcross, 2016). Through this study, it was possible to
determine the relevance of the grounded theory, black psychology theory, and family systems
theory in explaining the experience that single African American female parents go through
and decisions that they sometimes take when faced with different challenges. The outcome of
the study will explain the unique experience of single African American mothers of their
relationship with adolescent sons.

Research Questions

In this qualitative study, it was important to develop research questions that helped collect
data from various sources. The research questions should facilitate investigating the
experience of single African American females when parenting their adolescent sons. The
following is the primary research question that was based on the aim of the study:

How do single African-American sMother’s experience their relationship with their

adolescent sons?

The question was supported by sub-questions that focused on different experiences of these
parents when parenting their sons. The following are the supportive questions that were used
in collecting data:

I. What is it like to be a single African American mother of an adolescent son?

II. Describe your relationship with your adolescent son.
III. What are the most important aspects of your relationship with your son?
 IV. How has your relationship with your son changed over time?
V. Has the relationship changed since your son became an adolescent, or has it remained
the same?
VI. How do you typically communicate with your son?
VII. What other factors affect your relationship with your son?
VIII. If you could change any aspect of your relationships, what would it be?
IX. Are there any other comments you wish to add or issues that you believe are
important to discuss in relation to this topic?
X.
1.

Research Design

The most appropriate design for this study was the qualitative research method. When
investigating the experience of single African American females of being mothers to their
adolescent sons, statistical analysis may be irrelevant (Ehde, Dillworth, & Turner, 2014). The
experience of some parents may be so unique that it may not be possible to generalize
through inferential statistics. Allowing them to explain these experiences and how they try to
cope enabled the researcher to understand the pattern of the problem and how different
stakeholders try to address it. Qualitative research design facilitated a comprehensive
investigation of why the problem exists in this society and what can be done to address it
(Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). It proposed how single African American mothers can parent
their adolescent sons, with the help of teachers, religious leaders, and members of their
community, in a way that minimizes the negative experiences. Qualitative data collected and
analyzed identified areas of improvement needed to protect by members of the society to
ensure that parenting of the adolescents becomes a communal responsibility other than being
viewed as the sole responsibility of the parent (Cooper & Norcross, 2016). The chosen design
should enable the researcher to achieve the objectives of the study.

Assumptions and Limitations

According to Haefner (2014), it is necessary to define the assumptions and limitations

encountered when conducting research. One can easily understand the relevance of the study
in case it is necessary to apply it in a given context. The following were the assumptions,
limitations, and delimitations in this study:

Assumptions

Leech (2016) explains that different people have different experiences in parenting because
of socioeconomic factors. However, the study assumed that most single African American
females share the same experience when parenting their sons. Some of these single mothers
also get direct financial and emotional support from their partners, family members, and
fathers of their children (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). However, the study assumed that these
parents are not getting any form of emotional or financial support from their partners. The
paper also assumes that American society still embraces race, gender, academic
qualifications, and social status as defining factors. The paper presupposes that all the
subjects of the study (single African American mothers) face the same problem of upbringing
as a teenager. As Brown (2016a) observes, some teenagers are rebellious and very hostile,
making the process of parenting more difficult. On the other hand, some teenagers are
disciplined, intelligent, and understanding, making the experience of single mothers less
painful. However, the paper assumes that all the teenage sons have a standard behavior.

Limitations

The research had limitations that should be discussed in this stage of the report. One of the
main limitations was the time available for the study. America is a diverse country, even for
people of color (Williams & Smalls, 2015). The experiences that a single African American
mother has when parenting an adolescent son cannot be similar to that of a neighbor in the
same city who faces the same predicament. It would be appropriate to conduct separate
studies, classifying these single parents into different social classes to understand how their
experiences vary. However, the limited time made it impossible to narrow down the study
further. Another major limitation was finding the right people to help in collecting primary
data. Convincing some of the parents to take part in the study was a challenge. As Leech
(2016) explains, sometimes the experience of single parenting can be so painful that one finds
it difficult to discuss it. Others are not proud of such status and do not easily admit that they
are single mothers.

Delimitations

It was necessary to find a way of dealing with these challenges. As explained in the
assumption section above, although socioeconomic status may make the experience of some
single parents different, there are shared factors that make these single mothers face similar
challenges in the upbringing of their adolescent sons (Cooper & Norcross, 2016). As such, it
was not necessary to classify them further based on social status. The researcher worked
closely with different schools to identify single African American mothers. It was easy to
replace those who felt uncomfortable taking part in the study.

Chapter Summary

Chapter 1 provides a detailed discussion of the research background and the problem that the
study seeks to address. It has eight sections. The first section provides a background of the
problem and the need for the study. The next section discusses the need and purpose of the
study. The significance of the research is also discussed to justify the project. Research
questions and design are outlined. Assumptions, limitations, and definitions of terms are also
provided in this chapter. The dissertation has five chapters. Chapter 1 provides the
background of the study and the goal that should be achieved. Chapter 2 is a detailed review
of the literature. Chapter 3 discusses the method used to collect and analyze data, while
chapter 4 analyzes data collected from the respondents. Chapter 5 concludes the paper and
provides recommendations.

Literature Review
Introduction

In this chapter, the focus is to provide a detailed review of the existing literature. The chapter
starts with an explanation of the methods of research used to obtained secondary data
sources. The chapter then provides a detailed review of existing theories. Black Psychology
Theory and Family Systems Theory were found to be relevant in this paper. Factors that
influence parenting of adolescents such as culture, social status, gender, level of discipline
and academic excellence of a child, religious support, government support, personal
relationship between mother and child are also discussed. The chapter provides a synthesis of
research findings and a critique of previous research methods. It ends with a summary.

Methods of Searching

The literature review formed a critical part of the study. According to Benner et al. (2016), it
is important to review findings made by other scholars when conducting research. The
process not only provides background information but also identifies gaps in the existing
knowledge. Sources used in this chapter were obtained from different books are reliable
articles. The school library helped in finding the needed books and some journal articles. An
online search also made it possible to find current articles on the research topic. Key-words
such as ‘single parenting,’ ‘African American mothers’, and ‘parenting adolescents,’ among
others, made it possible for the researcher to find useful materials for the study. Some of the
databases that proved useful include Google Scholar, Journal Store (Jstor), Academic Search,
Pro-Quest, and EBSCO Information Services. They provided books and journals recently
published about single parenting, especially among African American women. Information
obtained from these sources and findings obtained through the analysis of primary data
informed the conclusion and recommendations made in the study.

Theoretical Orientation for the Study

It is necessary to analyze specific theories relevant to this research. According to Brody et al.
(2014), theoretical orientation for the study offers a researcher a basis upon which ideas
should be developed. Single African American females’ experience of being mothers to their
adolescent sons can effectively be captured by different theories and concepts (Dörnyei &
Ushioda, 2013). Two theoretical concepts were found to be relevant to the research topic.
They include Black Psychology Theory and Family Systems Theory. Each of them was
analyzed and effectively applied to the context of the study.

Black Psychology Theory

One of the emerging theories that concepts have used to describe the American social setting
is the Black Psychology Theory. According to Elliott et al. (2015), it explains the beliefs,
behavior, attitude, interactions, and feelings of African Americans (Ford & Moore, 2013). It
has developed over time, and as Barnett and Scaramella (2013) observe currently is based on
the Black Americans’ social environment. It is the desire of every American of goodwill to
champion a united society and committed to a common goal, as was defined by the founding
fathers (Jarvis, George, & Holland, 2013). Every person always desires to act in a way that
would bring the society together irrespective of the demographical differences that we have.
However, it is unfortunate that having such a perfect society is impossible (Pierre & Jackson,
2014). People tend to identify with their gender, race, religion, and other demographical
factors. Haefner (2014) believes that every time people narrow down on their principles to
specific factors such as race, they cease to be patriotic Americans committed to promoting a
unified society where everyone is treated with respect. As Cooper (2013) notes, the theory
offers a perfect explanation, why African Americans are disadvantaged compared with other
races in the country.
African Americans often find themselves on the defensive whenever the issue of racism
emerges. According to Brannon, Markus, and Taylor (2015), American society is still divided
along the racial line, with Blacks considered inferior to whites. It emerges from the history of
Africans in America. Most of them came to the United States during the colonial era as slaves
(Emmen et al., 2013). The society highly cherished the caste system by that time, and it
meant that they could not climb the social ladder through any means basically because of
their skin pigmentation. When the country gained independence, slavery was abolished, but
the perception towards Black Americans never changed (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). It took
several decades for African American men to gain the right to vote in this country. However,
that did not help counter the negative perception that whites had towards them (Duffy,
Blustein, Diemer, & Autin, 2016). Blacks who emigrated from Africa to the United States
since independence did little to change the perceptions that the society had towards them
(Percy, Kostere, & Kostere, 2015). Most of them were job seekers willing to do anything at
the least possible pay. It strengthened the narrative that these people can only be servants
(Pauker, Apfelbaum, & Spitzer, 2015). Fast forward to the 20th century, American society is
still segregated along the racial lines.

Family Systems Theory

When investigating single African American females’ experience of being mothers to their
adolescent sons, one of the important concepts that cannot be ignored is the Bowen’s Family
System Theory. It holds that people cannot be understood in isolation, but rather as part of a
family (Wang & Kenny, 2014). There is a close interdependent and interconnectedness of
individuals. Events that affect one individual also affect other individuals during the
interaction. When a mother had a bad experience at work, the emotional instability may affect
how she interacts with family members at home. The theory also explains the role of family
members and expectations (Zimmerman et al., 2013). Parents are expected to provide for the
family and offer protection and guidance. In a family with a single mother, the role of
providing, protecting, and guiding falls on her. Working different jobs to provide for the
family is not enough. Such a parent must also provide the emotional support that children
need.

The experience of single female parents depends on the relationships developed with the
child. When there is a close relationship between a mother and an adolescent son, it is easy
for the parent to explain the difficulties the family is going through and ways in which she is
trying to deal with them (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). The son will also explain the
socioeconomic challenges he is facing at school and home. The Family System Theory holds
that when a positive relationship is inculcated, there will be minimal disagreement. Each
party will understand the challenges of the other, and there will be a genuine effort to make
the experience less painful. On the other hand, when there is a poor relationship between a
mother and an adolescent son, cases of rebellion and disagreements become common. The
theory is appropriate for this study.

Review of the Literature

Parenting is a widely researched topic, and other scholars have addressed some of the
concepts that were investigated in this project. Barnett and Scaramella (2013) explain that
socioeconomic and political changes in society mean that some realities have changed.
According to Varner and Mandara (2013), a century ago, women in the United States were
not allowed to vote, and only a few of them were active in the corporate world. However, that
has changed. It means that the experiences that a single African American woman had when
raising a son in 1930 is different from that in 2018 (Williams & Smalls, 2015). Although the
study has been explored, these changes mean that revisiting the topic is important to
understand the positive steps that have been made and areas that still need society’s attention
(Pachankis et al., 2015). This section reviews findings made by other scholars who
investigated related topics.

Single Parenting in the United States

According to recent statistics, single parenting is becoming a common phenomenon in the

United States. Williams and Smalls (2015) argue that single parenting may be caused by
divorce, separation, incarceration of one partner, or death of a partner. According to Irvine et
al. (2013), the primary causes of single parenting in the country are divorce and separation of
the partners. Barnett and Scaramella (2013) argue that now more than ever, many marriages
end up in divorce before their fifth year. The phenomenon is not unique, but the rate at which
American marriages are ending in divorce or separation is worrying, as Barnett and
Scaramella (2013) observe. Figure 1 below shows the statistics of the changing American
families and how different groups are affected. The statistics show that the number of
children living with an unmarried mother is consistently rising since the 1960s. In 1960, less
than 10% of children were raised with unmarried mothers. The number has significantly
increased to 24% in 2010 (Blankstein, Noguera, Kelly, & Tutu, 2016). The whites are the
least affected group, although the problem is also becoming prevalent amongst them. In 1960,
about 9% of white children were raised by unmarried mothers, as shown in the statistics
below. The number has more than doubled to 19% in 2010 (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015).
Hispanics are also experiencing a similar problem. In 1978, about 18 Hispanic children were
raised by single mothers. The number is expected to increase as cases of divorce are on the
rise.

The social problem of single parenting affects African American mothers than any other
population in the United States. Since the 1960s, the number of African American children
raised by single mothers has been more than twice the country’s average (Cooper &
Norcross, 2016). The statistics in figure 1 below shows that the trend is not changing. In
1960, less than 10% of all American children were raised by single mothers. At that time,
20% of African American children were under the care of single mothers (Atzaba-Poria,
Deater-Deckard, & Bell, 2014). In 1990, 54% of African American minors were parented by
single mothers. At that time, the country’s average was 22%. As Leech (2016) explains, the
problem is not as prevalent today as in the 1990s, but the Blacks are still the worst affected
group. In 2010, 50% of African American children were parented by single mothers, while
the country’s average was 24% (Benner et al., 2016). The prevalence of this problem among
African Americans made it necessary to narrow down the study to this group because it is the
worst affected.
Fig. 1. Changing the American family structure (Damaske, Bratter, & Frech, 2017, p. 122).

Studies show that one of the leading causes of divorce and separation in the country is
infidelity. According to Stinson (2013), modern technologies, especially the growing
popularity of smartphones and other communication gadgets and software, have made it easy
for couples to trace activities and determine if one is unfaithful. The rate at which men are
cheating on their wives has not changed much, according to a study conducted by Nobles
(2013). However, it is easier than ever for wives to determine if they are cheating. On the
other hand, the rate at which women are cheating on their spouses has increased significantly
in the modern society compared with the case a century ago (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). The
trend is attributed to the empowerment of women, especially those in the corporate world.
They spend a lot of time at work and mingle with so many people, making it easy for them to
get into illicit affairs (Williams & Smalls, 2015). Still, it does not mean that women are more
promiscuous than men. The statistics only show that women empowerment has created
platforms where women can easily cheat on their partners.

The emergence of social media platforms is another factor that is straining relationships.
According to a report by Brown (2016b), social media can be very addictive. Some people
cannot spend more than 30 minutes of their free time without visiting Facebook, YouTube,
Twitter, and WhatsApp. They are so addicted to social media that they no longer have time
for their families (Jeynes, 2015). Traditionally, couples were expected to have family times
together after work to discuss fundamental issues such as the academic progress of children,
financial status of the family challenges that the couple face, and such related topics (Wang &
Kenny, 2014). However, that is no longer the case. After work, many couples spend time on
social media sharing with friends and family members. The two may be physically close, but
there is no connection because they spend chatting with others miles away. One partner may
need the attention of the other, but it may not be easy to get it because of the obsession with
Facebook and WhatsApp. Leech (2016) explains that in such instances, a rift will emerge
between the couples, and they will find it difficult to stay together. The outcome of such
undesirable situations is a separation or divorce.

Social networking sites not only distract couples from giving their partners the attention they
need but also promote vices dangerous to the unity of a family. According to Haefner (2014),
it is easier for one to make sexual advances on a colleague after work than when having a
face-to-face meeting. Those who are shy find social media a perfect platform for seduction
(Cooper & Norcross, 2016). When a partner finds such compromising messages on the
Facebook account of a colleague, the relationship will be strained. In other cases, a partner
may fall into the charms of the colleague who reaches out to them through social media. Such
cases are common when the romance and attention are lacking in the family. When such
individuals realize that there is someone willing to give them the attention they need, they can
easily backtrack on their marriage vows (Doody & Noonan, 2013). When infidelity sets in,
the fate of such a family is left on luck. The emergence of hook-up sites seeking to connect
men and women seeking love or casual relationships has worsened the problem. Ashley
Madison, Adult Friend Finder, and [Link] are some of the popular sites that people
couples visit when they realize that the romance they need is lacking at home (Hajar, 2016).
When a partner starts seeking love and attention from outside the family, the chances are high
that the relationship will soon end.

The increasing incidence of single parenting is often blamed on the empowerment of women.
In the past, women were forced to endure physical, emotional, and verbal abuse from their
husbands (Stinson, 2013). They had to depend solely on their husbands to provide for their
families. The love for their children and the fear of the unknown would make them withstand
all the abuses for the sake of having a stable family (Doody & Noonan, 2013). However, that
is no longer the case. Women can now afford to lead independent lives without the financial
support of their husbands. They are academically empowered and understand their rights in a
family setting (Harris, Sutherland, & Hutchinson, 2013). As such, whenever they feel that
their dignity is compromised and their love is taken for granted, they do not hesitate to move
out of the relationship (Ledgerton, 2013). With the current favorable laws that compel men to
provide financial support to their children after separation or divorce, the fear of the unknown
is always addressed. It means that women no longer fear leading single lives.

The increasing relevance of education and the need for economic empowerment in American
society is making some people disregard the need to have life-long partners. The problem is
majorly affecting the middle-class (Leech, 2016). These people spend a lot of time at school,
seeking to gain relevant skills that would enable them to achieve success in the corporate
world (Doody & Noonan, 2013). Once they start working, they have a focus on achieving
career success. They spend most of their time working and amassing wealth. When they are
in early or mid-thirties, they realize that they need to have families. At this stage, different
people take different approaches to achieve the goal that they desire. Some make the
deliberate choice to have children and lead the life of a single mother (Hess & Henig, 2015).
They feel that with their financial might, they can support their families without having a
male partner. Such individuals believe that being committed to a partner may limit their
ability to advance their careers (Ebert et al., 2015). They do not want to be controlled by a
partner who will demand to know what she is doing at every instance. Another group, as
Brown (2016b) explains, opts to get married and settle down with a chosen partner. However,
along the way, they realize that they cannot withstand a life where every action they take is
subject to scrutiny. Such individuals quickly find their ways out of their relationships, opting
to care for their children as single mothers.

The law is clear about the need for men to support their children after divorce. According to
Wang and Kenny (2014), a woman raising a son as a single mother should get regular
financial support from the father’s child to meet the necessary needs. The problem is that
sometimes implementing the law is not easy. Brown (2016a) explains that cases have been
witnessed where some men disappear, never to be seen again after their divorce. Others
consider resigning from their formal jobs to take manual tasks where it would be difficult to
track down their earnings (Milkie, Nomaguchi, & Denny, 2015). Many succeed in avoiding
the financial responsibility of caring for their children, especially if the mother is given full
custody. In such cases, the responsibility of providing for the children falls in the hand of the
mother. They suddenly realize that the law they expected to protect them is not very effective
in doing so (Katz, 2015). They have to budget for the little resources they have to ensure that
the needs are met. However, the American system is not favorable to women as it is to men.
Similarly, when the woman is an African American, the experience is worse. In the next
section, the focus is to review challenges that single African American mothers have to deal
with when parenting their adolescent sons because of their demographical class.

Demographical Differences and Consequences

Single African American mothers go through a lot as they struggle to raise their adolescent
sons. According to Barnett and Scaramella (2013), American society still treats people of
different gender and race differently. Women are becoming successful in the corporate world,
and many are now holding senior positions in large companies across the country. However,
they are still trailing men in terms of the ease with which they can be employed and the
salaries earned (Johnsen & Friborg, 2015). According to Stinson (2013), most employers
prefer working with men to women because of various stereotypical reasons. It is easier for
an American man with the same qualifications as a woman to get employment in the country.
The salary scale also favors men. According to Brown (2016a), “Today, on average, a woman
earns 80.5 cents for every dollar a man earns, and women’s median annual earnings are
$10,086 less than men’s” (p. 340). It means that economically, it is more difficult for a single
mother to raise an adolescent son than a single father. Brown (2016a) also observes that
single mothers are more vulnerable to economic exploitation. They highly value economic
stability, even if they are exploited. These parents know that getting a decent job in the
country may take a while when they shift from one job to another. Given that they lack any
other support, they prefer staying at their current jobs even if their salary is lower than their
male colleagues.

The problems that women face in society as single mothers are worse if they are African
Americans. A study by Jeynes (2015) shows that African American is less likely to get to the
best colleges in the country compared with their white colleagues who score a final grade in
their final year of college. Institutions of learning in the country are still structured to favor
whites at the expense of African Americans. In the job market, the same trend is witnessed.
Williams, Priest, and Anderson (2016) reports that “in 2015, the hourly pay gap between
blacks and whites widened to 26.7%, with whites making an average of $25.22 an hour
compared to $18.49 for blacks” (p. 410). It is worrying that the more the society is trying to
fight racism and its negative consequences, the more things seem not to change (Fraga,
2016). The statistics show that the situation is getting even worse.

The current wage gap was bigger in the past than it is currently. Wilson, Henriksen,
Bustamante, and Irby (2016) reiterate that “almost 40 years ago, in 1979, the wage gap
between blacks and whites was 18.1%, with whites earning an inflation-adjusted average of
$19.62 an hour and blacks were earning $16.07 an hour” (p. 198). About 100 years ago, the
justification for the wage gap was that African Americans were less educated compared to the
whites. However, that is no longer the case. Brown (2016b) says that discrimination has been
one of the leading reasons for the wage gap. The American system highly favors whites, not
just because of their numerical strength in the country but also the belief that they are
superior (Hines & Holcomb‐McCoy, 2013). A research conducted by Brown (2016b) found
that African Americans do not hesitate to employ whites. On the other hand, some whites still
consider giving blacks the last priority when hiring or promoting employees. The most
unfortunate thing, as explained in the Black Psychology Theory, is that some blacks have
resigned to their fate and have come to believe that whites are superior (Doody & Noonan,
2013). For a single African American female raising an adolescent son in this society, all
odds are against her, and the experience can be frustrating.

Parenting Adolescents

Parenting an adolescent is a challenging task. According to Leech (2016), “Raising

adolescents is one long, often agonizing, exercise in the hardest part of parenting” (p. 425). It
is at this stage of parenting that one has to embrace the need for negotiation when instructing
children. Teenagers tend to be rebellious at this stage of development. The physiological and
psychological changes they go through are often confusing (Doody & Noonan, 2013). They
need adult support to understand how to cope with these changes while at the same time, they
need their space to make independent decisions. It means that a parent must learn how to
guide their children through this complex phase of development in a way that offers them an
ability to make independent decisions (Jackson, 2013). During the early stages of
development, children tend to view their parents and teachers as their role model. At the
adolescent stage, such a child is mature enough to understand the struggles and successes of
the parent (Williams & Smalls, 2015). They will admire or resent the lifestyle of a parent
based on the values and beliefs they get to embrace. One has to cope and manage a child’s
attitude to guide them properly.

When they realize that their parents do not fit into the perfect person they want to become,
they start looking for other role models, and that is always the beginning of the rebellion.
Brown (2016a) explains that once an adolescent realizes that they do not want to lead a life
similar to that their parents’ he or she may develop a feeling that the parent has no capacity to
advise them on how to work towards success. Peer-pressure is another serious challenge at
this stage, as Leech (2016) states. The moment a teenager fails to find a role model at home,
they become susceptible to influences by friends. The need to gain acceptance may force
them to act in ways that may put their lives, lives of their loved ones, or their future in
danger. Most of those who are abusing drugs start their habit as an adolescent. They
experiment with their lives a lot, and that may be a major problem for them and their families
(Williams & Smalls, 2015). Such rebellious children may easily become delinquents and can
be sent to prison at tender ages.

Parenting an adolescent son poses unique challenges for a single mother. As explained above,
children often look at their parents as their role models. Normally, a son will grow up
wanting to be like the father (Doody & Noonan, 2013). In this case, the child will be raised
by a single mother, who they cannot emulate. Haefner (2014) explains the challenges that an
adolescent son needs the attention of the father to overcome some of the challenges
encountered at this stage of development. Most importantly, such a child grows up knowing
that they have to find a role model who is not the parent. A single mother may struggle to
guide such a child once the perception develops in his mind that he needs a different person
to offer the guidance they need. Brown (2016b) argues that such adolescents can easily be
misled by male members of the society, especially those that they view as potential role
models. The desire to learn what it takes to be a man will make them trust the wrong people
within their immediate community. Such an experience can be traumatizing, especially if the
child takes a wrong path against the advice offered by the mother.

Factors That Define Parenting Experience

According to Ford and Moore (2013), different factors define the experience that a single
African American female goes through when parenting adolescent sons. It is challenging for
a single mother to care for an adolescent son alone, even if she is financially empowered.
However, it is important to appreciate that some of them go through more traumatizing
experiences than others. In this section, it was necessary to identify specific factors that
define the experience of these single parents.

Culture

Culture is one of the most important factors that define the approach of parenting. As Haefner
(2014) explains, the United States is one of the most demographically diversified countries in
the world. Technology, school, workplace environment, and media have tried to break the
cultural barrier (Wang & Kenny, 2014). However, Stinson (2013) notes that different social
groups have different practices based on their backgrounds. Culture is a major concern when
raising an adolescent son. Most of the African cultures limit the ability of a son to discuss
sex-related issues with the mother. In fact, to some, it is a taboo for the two to engage in such
debates (Williams & Smalls, 2015). Although civilization that is motivated by education in
eradicating such beliefs, it is still not common to find an African American son sharing sex-
related problems with their mothers. It means that when such a child will have to find an
alternative way of solving their problems.

The best alternative in the absence of a trusted male adult would-be colleagues at school. The
problem is that these colleagues also have no idea how the problem should be addressed
(Doody & Noonan, 2013). However, that does not stop them from proposing solutions, some
of which may have serious consequences. When the child comes in harm’s way, the mother
will be subjected to the trauma of finding a solution to the problem (Tayler & Price, 2016). It
is even more frustrating when these parents realize that the problem that their children go
through is that which the culture limits them from discussing (Jeynes, 2015). Some are forced
to find trusted male adults to address the problem. Knowing the problem that one’s child is
going through but lacking the capacity to address it because of cultural limitations is
irritating.

Social status

Social status is one of the crucial factors that define the parenting experience of single
African American mothers caring for their adolescent sons. In American society, the ability
of an individual to provide for the family is important (Ford & Moore, 2013). The problem is
worsened for urban dwellers where the cost of living is very high. The rich live in safe
neighborhoods where there are social facilities that can support parenting (Wang & Kenny,
2014). Single mothers who are financially empowered can meet most of the needs of their
children. Whenever they realize that their adolescent sons need a mentor, they can easily
make arrangements to ensure that they can meet the right people who can guide them through
life. Such children, although they lack the direct emotional support of a father, lead a
relatively normal life. They feel that their single mother is capable of parenting them, and
there is always a sense of admiration. As Stinson (2013) observes, it does not mean all
children raised in rich neighborhoods are disciplined and successful in their academics.
However, they are offered a better platform to facilitate their success. The single mother may
have occasional emotional pain of having to raise the son alone (Spores, 2013). Nevertheless,
there is always a sense of pride and satisfaction when they realize that they are succeeding in
caring for their children without any support. It gives them a sense of overcoming challenges
associated with single parenting.

The experience of poor single mothers is completely different from that of the rich. Most of
them have to take several jobs a day to make ends meet (Doody & Noonan, 2013). They
leave early in the morning and come back late at night to ensure that basic needs are met.
Snyder (2016) explains that such parents rarely have time to spend with their children. They
believe that providing for their families is the fundamental goal they have to realize, hoping
that teachers will help in offering emotional support to their children. In most of the cases, it
is impossible for teachers to offer personal attention to their students, especially in public
schools where the population is relatively high, and the pay is poor (Jeynes, 2015). The
neighborhood within which such families stay also exposes these children to all manner of
dangers. Drug trafficking and abuse, trade-in contraband goods, robbery, burglary, and gang-
related activities are common in such areas. Adolescent boys are always the worst affected
groups by such gang-related crime.

When they lack the fatherly guidance they need and are constantly strained financially, they
find solace in gangs. They start abusing and smuggling drugs without the knowledge of their
parents (Elish-Piper, 2013). If the trend is not arrested in time, they can join dangerous
criminal gangs committing felonies within the neighborhood (Williams & Smalls, 2015). It is
disheartening for a single mother, working for over 13 hours a day to provide for the family,
to realize that the son she cares for so much is now engaged in criminal activities. The
problem is that some gangs prohibit their members from leaving or betraying the group. It
means that once such a child becomes a member, his life, and that of the loved ones depend
on his commitment to the gang (Wang & Kenny, 2014). They cannot leave the group till such
a time he will be arrested for crimes committed if he wants to avoid the wrath of the gang.
African Americans are the worst affected by the problem of poverty.

Leech (2016) argues that the history of the United States has always put them at a position of
disadvantage. Even after the abolition of the slave trade and slavery, African Americans have
never enjoyed socio-economic and political freedom (Price & Tayler, 2015). Some of the best
educational institutions in the United States give priority to whites over any other race. Some
are now using a new strategy of high school fees to ensure that the advantaged continue to get
the best education while the poor are left to suffer. According to Brown (2016b), the level
and quality of education that a child gets define the ability to succeed in life. The poor
continue to suffer because of the system that glorifies the rich and whites. Employers in some
of the Silicon Valley companies highly value the college where one graduated (Hutchin,
2013). Some of the top law firms in New York only hire law graduates from Harvard School
of Law, Cambridge University, University of Manchester, and other Ivy League colleges.
Even after struggling to go through high school and college education, the poor still find it
difficult to find stable jobs in the country. Table 1 below shows the employment status in the
United States from 2001 to 2010 based on race.
Table 1: Employment Status by Race. Source (Damaske et al., 2017, p. 125).

The statistics in the table above shows the employment status of people from three different
races. It is evident that full-time employment has dropped for the majority of Americans from
2001 to 2010. Whites experienced a drop from 60.7% in 2001 to 54.5%. For African
Americans, it dropped from 55.8% to 50.4% within the same period (Damaske et al., 2017).
The Asians had a consistent increase in the number of those in full employment, from 54.8%
in 2001 to 58.3%. The table also shows a worrying statistics about unemployment of Blacks
in the country (Howard & McInnes, 2013). Unemployment among African Americans
increased from 9.7% in 2001 to 13.2 in 2010. It is important to note that they are the worst
affected group as per the statistics presented above. Leech (2016) explains that the trend is
caused by multiple factors. Juvenile delinquency, inability to acquire a college education and
racial discrimination are some of the leading factors that cause unemployment. Figure 2
below shows how different groups in the country are at risk of poverty based on their race.
Fig. 2. Risk of poverty by race (Damaske et al., 2017, p. 128).

Poverty is a major factor that defines a parent’s experience of the relationship with an
adolescent son. Leech (2016) explains that factors such as limited education, lack of
entrepreneurial skill, and the existence of systems that disfavors a section of the society may
be lead to poverty. As shown in the figure above, whites and Asians are the least affected
groups. Whites have a better education than blacks and do not suffer from any form of
prejudice. On the other hand, a significant number of Asians are experts in the field of
technology, making it easy for them to find employment in the country (Williams & Smalls,
2015). They are less affected by racism compared to blacks. From the data above, African
Americans are some of the worst affected group. Unlike other groups, the number of black
single mothers at risk of unemployment has been on the rise from 2001 to 2010. Brown
(2016a) explains that some people are out of employment because of personal reasons, and
that does not mean they are at risk of becoming poor. However, many single African
American mothers depend on their jobs to earn a living. Table 2 below shows the level of
poverty among single mothers of different races.
Table 2: Poverty rates Among Mothers of Different Races. Source (Damaske et al., 2017, p.
130).

The statistics above show that what poverty rates major affects American minority groups. In
2001, white females were the least affected group. Only 28.5% of the whites were affected
(Damaske et al., 2017). However, the number of poor single white females has been on the
rise consistently since then to 33.7%. However, their problem is not worse than female
African American single mothers. In 2001, 42.4% of them were considered poor. The number
increased significantly to 46.2% in 2010. Snyder (2016) explains that almost half of the
single African American mothers struggle to provide their families with basic needs. As the
population of single mothers continues to increase, the problem continues to get worse.
Single female Asian Americans have registered improved performance. Those considered
poor dropped from 30.7% to 27.7% in 2010. The findings show that the rate of absolute
poverty in the United States is dropping.

Gender

The experience of single parenting can also be defined by gender. According to Ford and
Moore (2013), it is more difficult for a single African American woman with an adolescent
son to get a committed partner than it is for a male of the same race and in a similar situation
to remarry. The problem is that American society still embraces the belief that a man should
be the provider for the family (Doody & Noonan, 2013). It means that for most men, they
view a woman with an adolescent son as a double responsibility. On the other hand, a woman
would not have a problem marrying a man with an adolescent son because she knows the
man will provide for the family.

These single mothers not only suffer from the huge financial burden they have to bear
meeting the needs of the family but also have to deal with complex love life (Johnsen &
Friborg, 2015). Some of them are not looking for people to offer them financial support but
someone they can share their issues with a plan for the future (Wang & Kenny, 2014).
However, that has to be sacrificed because of being mothers to adolescent sons. Leech (2016)
explains that some men find it comfortable marrying women with infants so that they can still
r the right virtues into them. However, that is not possible for an adolescent. The fear that
such teenagers will not grant them the respect they deserve as the fatherly figure often drive
many men away from such mothers. Snyder (2016) notes that out of frustration, some single
mothers resort to marrying men twice their age not because they are in love but because of
the desire to have some sort of support. Some of these challenges may strain the relationship
between a mother and an adolescent son.

Level of discipline and academic excellence

The behavior of a child and academic performance also has an impact on the experience of a
parent. Slonim (2014) explains that although it is challenging to care for an adolescent son,
parents get motivated when they have disciplined and academically sharp sons. When an
adolescent son follows instructions given in school and at home, and avoids all forms of
trouble, the mother will not be troubled with the thought of them being in the problem. An
adolescent who is a performer also gives hope to the parent (Williams & Smalls, 2015).
Although the trend is changing among the rich, many poor Americans still believe that they
can come out of poverty through their children. They believe that when their children succeed
in school and get stable, well-paying jobs, they can provide them with a better lifestyle than
the one they had before (Jeynes, 2015). As such, the experience that a mother of an intelligent
son would have is different from that with a poor performing son. Many families in this
country still believe that success can only be achieved through education. When a son is an
academic dwarf, there is always the feeling that he will lead the same desperate lifestyle as
the poor parents (Hines & Holcomb‐McCoy, 2013). The single mother loses the hope that is
needed to single-parent a child at such a delicate stage of development.

Religious support

Religious beliefs sometimes offer much-needed emotional support to women. According to

Slonim (2014), the number of women who regularly go to church in the United States is
almost twice that of men. When parenting an adolescent son, a single mother may have
problems offering them the guidance they need to become responsible men (Cooper &
Norcross, 2016). They may also lack the capacity to understand what these teenagers are
going through at this stage of development (Doody & Noonan, 2013). However, church and
other religious institutions can be of great help in many ways. Among members of the
congregation, such a son can find a role model who can guide him as would be necessary.
Many churches offer guidance and counseling to their members (Hojjat & Moyer, 2017). It
means that an adolescent son can visit the pastor and share with him issues affecting his life
at school or at home.
The single mother can also get guidance on how to achieve success as a lone parent. Youth
groups in churches are often guided by the principles and practices of Christianity (Hines &
Holcomb‐McCoy, 2013). Negative influence and peer pressure do not have a serious impact
on them because of the close guidance they get from church. A study by Barnett and
Scaramella (2013) found out that women who go to church regularly have a better experience
when parenting their teenage sons than those who do not go to church. Other than the
emotional support and guidance that they get from the congregation and church leaders, there
is also a sense of hope that they get. They are reminded that their hard work may not be paid
on earth, but God in heaven will surely reward them (Williams & Smalls, 2015). Although
that may not make sense to non-believers, such assurances work magic among Christians. It
makes them believe that there is a reason why they should continue with their struggle,
however painful it may seem. Without such emotional support, one cannot easily overcome
the numerous challenges of parenting an adolescent son.

Government support

The cost of living in some of the leading cities in the United States is prohibitive. For a poor
single African American mother, the financial burden may be too great to bear (Wang &
Kenny, 2014). Government-sponsored social support may help ease the pain of parenting a
son in such demanding conditions. Public housing is one of the most important social
supports that these parents need. The fact that these houses are subsidized means that these
parents will pay less rent. They can spend their hard-earned income on other equally
important needs. The government has also introduced universal care for all Americans.
Snyder (2016) explains that the cost of quality healthcare services in the country is very high.
Before the introduction of the universal healthcare plan, many low-income families were
struggling to access these services. However, the plan has been of help to many (Doody &
Noonan, 2013). Single African American females parenting their adolescent sons in the
country go through a lot if they do not qualify for these social support services, yet they are
poor (Slonim, 2014). Studies show that those who immigrate into the country illegally are the
worst affected group.

Personal relationship between mother and child

The experience of a single mother can sometimes be defined by the relationship they have
with their sons. Snyder (2016) explains that some parents are able to inculcate a close
relationship with their sons based on trust and love. At the adolescent stage, a son will be able
to understand some of the challenges that the parent goes through to make ends meet. It
means that they can both offer emotional support to one another. The emotional pain of the
mother is lessened by the understanding of the son. On the other hand, when the relationship
is strained, the experience can be frustrating (Dickins, 2014). Having to work hard to provide
for a son who does not understand and appreciate the effort that the single mother is putting
in place to meet family needs can be annoying. Others have to deal with the problem of
having sons capable of stealing from them. Such problems often strain the relationship
between a single mother and an adolescent son.

Synthesis of Research Findings

The review of the literature points out the experience that single mothers go through when
parenting their sons. One of the major themes that have been brought out in the literature is
the impact of social status on parenting (Wang & Kenny, 2014). The study shows that
financially empowered single mothers find it less stressful to care for their adolescent sons
(Drifte, 2014). Their ability to provide most of the needs of these teenagers makes the
experience memorable. However, poor single mothers strain a lot to care for their teenage
sons. Another major theme brought out is racism and its impact on parenting adolescent sons.
According to Slonim (2014), the United States has made significant steps in fighting racism
in all its forms. However, it is still a major problem in the country. It affects the education
sector, workplace environment, and other social forums.

The review reveals that African Americans still find it more difficult to get employment than
their white colleagues who have similar qualifications. Gender is another theme presented in
the review (June & Mathis, 2013). The experience of single mothers when parenting
adolescent sons is worse than that of single fathers. A single mother will find it more difficult
getting a good job in this country than a male colleague in the same situation. It is also not
easy for them to have a successful relationship because many men far the burden of caring for
such sons (Styron & Styron, 2017). It is important to note that although the researcher
identified and reviewed numerous journal articles and books, a detailed study of the
experience of single African American females parenting their adolescent sons was missing
(Brock, Dodds, Jarvis, & Olusoga, 2013). It was an indication that further investigation was
necessary for this field.

The researcher reviewed various theories to determine how they can help in understanding
the experience of African American female parents in the country. The Black Psychology
theory was important in explaining the beliefs and attitudes of American society towards
blacks (Devarakonda, 2013). Its main strength was the ability to explain why it is still
difficult for African Americans to achieve success in society despite the effort put in place to
fight racism. The Family system theory explained the connection that people have in the
family and the pain experienced when one member of the family is affected by a specific
problem (Hines & Holcomb‐McCoy, 2013). It helped in explaining why it is easy for an
adolescent son to join gang groups to earn money when he realizes that the mother is
struggling to meet the basic needs of the family. However, the main weakness of this theory
is that it does not provide specific information on the challenges that single African American
females go through. It looks at the experience from a broad perspective (Williams et al.,
2017). The two theories provided an understanding of the diversity of American society and
its relevance in defining the relationship between parents and siblings.

The review of the literature provides a picture of the experience that single mothers go
through in this country. It is evident that their experience is more challenging than that of
fathers who have to raise their adolescent children (Hallet, 2016). It starts from the difficulty
in meeting the financial needs to having problems getting committed long-term partners. The
review of the literature also shows that African Americans are a disadvantaged minority
group because of the social setting of the country. Racism puts them at a position of
disadvantage (Doody & Noonan, 2013). It is also clear from the information gathered in this
chapter that the experience that single mothers are finding it difficult parenting adolescent
sons than adolescent daughters. In fact, a study by Brown (2016a) revealed that single
mothers prefer having girls to boys. Some even resent having to raise boys on their own.
Although getting literature that accurately discusses the topic comprehensively was
challenging, it was possible to gather information from different angles to have a clear picture
of their experience.

Critique of Previous Research Methods

The experience of single African American females of being parents to their adolescent sons
is a very sensitive topic that needs accurate information. According to Ford and Moore
(2013), some parents end up committing suicide because of the depression from such
experience. As such, care was taken when selecting resources for the study. Most of the
books used were authored by reputable scholars who had spent time investigating the
problem of single parenting, the impact of racism, and income inequalities in the United
States for years. Dr. Maudry-Beverley Lashley is an accomplished author who has spent
many years investigating the experience of black single mothers and the perception that
society has towards them. As Barnett and Scaramella (2013) note, the validity and reliability
of secondary sources of data often depend on the knowledge and experience of the author.
That is why the researcher trusted studies conducted by such accomplished scholars. It was
also necessary to take into account the rigor of design, sampling techniques and sample sizes,
quality of the instruments of research, the relevance of the statistical procedure, and other
related quality factors of the articles before using them in the study (Flavell, 2014). Most of
the articles used had a large sample size that informed the conclusion made.

Having the right sample size makes it possible to have accurate data. Slonim (2014) explains
that a large sample size makes the study more trusting. Given that this is qualitative research,
it was necessary to review quantitative reports at this stage of the literature review. Some of
the articles used in this chapter were based on quantitative research (Wu et al., 2015). It
explains why statistical graphs and tables were present in this chapter. It helps in providing a
comprehensive investigation in this report. Although some of their investigations were
conducted over 14 years ago, they are still relevant in the present context. Snyder (2016)
warns that failure to review the relevance and reliability of sources can lead to the collection
of misleading information. The scholar also warns against using few sources when
conducting research on a highly sensitive issue, such as the one being focused on in this
paper (Hooper, 2013). Getting views from different experts expands the knowledge and helps
in identifying possible conflicts in the body of knowledge. It is the reason why numerous
sources were used in this chapter.

Summary

Single parenting is becoming a common problem in the United States. Many scholars classify
it as a problem because not many people get into marriage with the goal of having children
and then parting ways. It is also a problem because raising a child as a single parent is more
challenging than when partners do it together. Infidelity is considered one of the leading
reasons why many families are breaking in the United States. Women empowerment,
intolerance, heavy use of social media, and the desire to commitment towards achieving
career success are some of the reasons why single parenting is becoming common. The
review of the literature shows that many women suffer from caring for their adolescent sons.
Other than the financial strain, they find it difficult to identifying and openly discussing
challenges that they face in life. Culture limits what they can discuss with their sons.

The theoretical concept helps in understanding the unique situation that single African
American mothers find themselves in when caring for their adolescent sons. Black
Psychology Theory explains the position of disadvantage that black single mothers find
themselves in within the society. Systems and structures are designed in a way that is
unfavorable to women and people of color. It means that being a black female is double
jeopardy in the country. Society is changing, and some of the experiences that women went
through in the past may not be the same as what it is today. It is important to collect primary
data to determine the nature of the problem at the moment. The next chapter explains the
methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret primary data.

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