Single Parent Families in Australia

Contents 1. 1Introduction3 1. 2Social Wellbeing3 1. 3Disadvantage, Marginalisation, Power and Privilege4 1. 4Brief Report Outline4 2Research Methodology4 2. 1Reli efficiency of Data and Limitations5 3Presentation and Analysis5 3. 1Housing6 3. 2Income7 3. 3Survey Evidence10 3. 4Survey results Diagrammed12 3. 5Conflict and Functionalist Theories17 3. 6Functionalist possibility17 3. 7Conflict Theory18 4Conclusion Evaluation and finis Making19 4. 1Recommendations and Implications19 5Appendix20Melissa Zanesco, Adderton 6 Study of Society hide Single P arnt Families Ms Brown 1 Introduction In a survey conducted over a period of ten classs, it has been found that the number of angiotensin-converting enzyme call forth families has nearly reduplicated, and is continuing to increase estimate 11 ABS, 2007. Despite this, angiotensin-converting enzyme erect families in Australia face many a(prenominal) challenges in terms of marginalisation and disadvantage because they do not assi milate the homogeneous income advantage and hold accessibility as united families.In position, seek has shown that women atomic number 18 charge more so disadvantaged than men and, as such, experience raise barrier in raising children and equilibrize income and house affordability. Consequently, these disadvantages lend to a lower chance of having causality in society and therefore, not receiving the same take aim of privilege as those in marry couples. 2 Social Wellbeing Social benefit comprises a number of contributing factors. The Australian Bureau of Statistics lists atomic number 18as of concern as being health, education, employment status, sparing re credits and living trying ons ABS, 2001.It is these very factors that directly affect the level of equality shown towards groups in society. In addition, if geniuss access to these fundamental indicators is undermined because of their marital status, it can lead to affable inequality. Inevitably, this prod uces unfair rights and opportunities between groups. Inequality arises in societies when individuals or groups within the society do not experience sameness of treatment in carnal knowledge to class, wealth, education, gender or race Wikipedia, 2010. Single conjure families are particularly affected by their access to ffordable and confirmable housing and their capacity to earn an fitting income in club to place upright their families. In 1996, the ABS Census of Population and Housing found that at least fifty percent of hotshot call forth kinsperson owners or private renters spent at least a quarter of their income on either mortgage repayments or rent Council of Single Mothers & their Children, 2002. This claim is further supported by findings from the survey completed which found that of thirty people surveyed, 87% of unmatchable parents were living in rented accommodation compared to unless(prenominal) 13% of conjoin couples.These statistics confirm that atomic n umber 53 parent families are immensely disadvantaged in housing ownership, primarily because the income being earned is not sufficient plenteous to grease ones palms a house and the absence of a second income limits the level of privilege item-by-item parents have. 3 Disadvantage, Marginalisation, Power and Privilege Such disadvantages and consequent marginalisation inevitably produces inequalities in society, therefore hindering their access to power and privilege in the community.Limited power in society results in sensation parent families receiving incapable support and privileges WordNet, 2009. Power can often be confused with privilege. While the two are interrelated, ones level of power is determined by their actions and the subsequent status maked by it. Privilege can be seen as a result of having power. When one achieves power in society, greater privileges are rewarded WordNet, 2009. Similarly, marginalisation is also closely related to disadvantage. One is disadva ntaged when they are not fertilizen equal access to opportunities.Disadvantages are often caused by not having the same level of status as another because of lifestyle circumstances in this situation it is being a one parent WordNet, 2009. Consequently, single parents and in particular single mothers are a minority group in society and as such become marginalised within the community because they are unable to have the same lifestyle a coupled family would have. 4 Brief Report Outline This report leave behind investigate single parent families in Australia and the management in which they are disadvantaged through economic income and housing.As a direct consequence of these disadvantages, single parents are being marginalised in society. From the ABS Social Indicators, housing and income will be analysed as areas of concern in order to evaluate whether single parent families are indeed disadvantaged because of their status in society. It will be investigated as to how these two measures of social wellbeing affect the level of equality shown towards single parent families. In addition, evidence from the survey will be presented to support the information given in the report.Finally, both the conflict and functionalist theories will be considered to beg off social inequality in relation to, and which theory is kayoedstrip suited to single parent families. Research Methodology The focus of the explore was to locate information from an array of base and secondary sources about single parent families in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics was the main secondary source used to find official statistics, while the quantitative survey completed was the primary source of data.The survey provided information from thirty participants that would support the information presented and allow conclusions to be drawn. The questions in the survey focused primarily on housing and income and also what the oecumenic publics get word was on disposal assistance for families. The survey was created with convenience in mind, and thus featured primarily multiple choice questions, with one question asking for a written opinion on the organisation assistance scheme. Information found from secondary sources was presented in a research control and referenced accordingly. Reliability of Data and Limitations There were solitary(prenominal) three factors which may have played a role in the reliability and validity of the findings. Firstly, and the biggest shifting was the survey responses. It is unknown whether every person surveyed gave truthful behaves and while it was acceptable, it made it difficult to record accurate statistics if a participant did not want to answer certain questions. Secondly, in terms of the survey, only thirty people were questioned, which meant that the sample size was small and confined to Brisbane regions.Presumably, this meant that it did not harness the opinion of a wide-eyed variety of people. And lastly, only about half of the survey participants were single parents and it was very difficult to find single parents, so the results were not as comprehensive as would have been preferred. Presentation and Analysis Single parent families consist of a parent whereby they do not live with either a marital or de facto partner together with a child of their own that was dependent on the parents ABS, 2007.According to the information obtained through the surveys, 9 out of the 18 single parent families were single due to divorce of registered marriage. The other 9 of the 18 single parents stated that they had never been in a registered marriage, but this was single due to musical interval of de facto couples. It was found that single parent families are most often headed by women, with only a small minority headed by men ABS, 2007. This is a world-shattering variable that has been consistent in research and whereby income and housing have shown to differentiate between the two.Single parent famil ies account for twenty two percent of families with children slight than fifteen years of age in Australia ABS, 2007. This figure is expected to hatch to rise, as can be seen in go out 11, which has shown a steady and incessant increase in single parent families from years 1987 to 2003. In 2006, 87% of one-parent families with children younger than 15 years were headed by mothers ABS, 2007. Yet, despite this wage increase disregard, single parents continue to be one of Australias most disadvantaged groups, with little indication of improvement. 1 HousingIn 2007, 14% of single parent families publicly rented their homes, 40 percent privately rented and forty percent owned or purchased their homes. While that figure does not seem alarming, it is when compared to the eighty percent of coupled families who owned their homes double the rate of single parent families ABS, 2007. Coupled with this, the survey found that 87% of single parents surveyed were living in rental accommodat ion, compared to fair 13% of married couples refer to Figure 2. Between the ABS and survey statistics, this is an average of 70. % of single parents living in rental housing. In addition, women are at a further disadvantage with 62% of single women surveyed living in rented homes and only 38% of single men with the same living arrangements refer to Figure 3. In addition, those applying to take out a mortgage must pass a certain criteria including whether your income has the capacity to afford the repayments. Banks apply certain standards, like capacity to make repayments and many single parents are not earning enough to qualify for this criterion, making it even more difficult for single parents to corrupt a house.The key trend here is that single parents are marginalised in housing ownership because only those with a senior high school income may be able to afford to take out a mortgage and as such, are dependent in their chances of being able to purchase a house. A recent study by the University of South Australia found that single mothers faced discrimination when severe to secure housing in the private rental market because landlords were unwilling to sign leases for single mothers with children AHURI, 2002.Furthermore, Cam Smith from the Victorian Council of Social Service recently detect that rents have also been rising by about 15 per cent a year, arguing that despite the growing costs of housing, the political science is nevertheless to re-evaluate its rental assistance scheme for single parent families, with single parent families still spending more than a quarter of their income on housing ABS, 2007.Those eligible for rent assistance must be living in private rental accommodation and must also be receiving social guarantor payments Centrelink, 2010. Many have called for a review of this policy because single parents on a low income that are not receiving social security payments are unsuitable for rent assistance. This is supported by eviden ce found in the surveys which showed that half of the single parents surveyed were earning under $30 000 per annum, meaning that $7500 of this income is eing spent on rent alone. In summary, it is evident that in terms of housing access, single parent families struggle to obtain suitable housing that is affordable and maintainable and majority of single parents are unable to purchase a house because their income and other factors do not meet the criteria for home loans. Majority of single parents are living in rented accommodation and still find it difficult to pay rent even with rent assistance.Thus, single parent families are marginalised in terms of home ownership because many do not earn a sufficient income to purchase a home, but cannot nominate more hours because they must be home to look aft(prenominal) their children. Inevitably, single parent families are confine in their access to power and privilege because having dependent children means they are circumscribe to work ing less hours and earning a lower income a key factor in determining the level of power a person has and the privileges attained by it. Income Research constantly shows that single parent families are at a greater risk of poverty than couple families. According to a study by the National Centre for frugal and Social Modelling (NATSEM), in 2001 the proportion of single parent families in income poverty was 18% compared with 6% of married couples with children (refer to Figure 1)NATSEM, 2001. The vulnerability of single parents results from the difficulty of balancing employment to earn an income while providing for and raising children alone.The difficulty in this is that single parents who are raising children alone find it almost impossible to work any more than part period and thus, cannot earn the same income as married couples working full time. Single parents are disadvantaged because they are restricted in being able to work only a certain number of hours a week because a lot of time must be spent at home looking after their children. Single mothers are at a greater level of poverty as seen in the surveys with only 26% of single mothers working full time, compared to 74% of single fathers refer to Figure 7.This statistic reinforces the argument that single mothers are not privileged in terms of income because they do not have opportunity to earn that of a full time working parent, and are more disadvantaged than single fathers because women account for the majority of single parents. In 2007, the ABS reported that forty two percent of single parent families were relying on government benefits as their primary source of income compared to six percent of coupled families with dependent children ABS, 2007. The disadvantage in this is that many single parents are headed by mothers, and it is widely known that women earn less than men.In fact, surveys showed that 38% of single mothers were earning less than $30 000 per annum compared to just 11% of single fathers earning the same income. Furthermore, just 5% of single mothers were earning over $45 001 per annum compared to 38% of single fathers earning the same amount Figure 6. These results sidle up the fact that single fathers are less disadvantaged when it comes to income because they are more likely to be working full time than single mothers and as such are less likely to be living in poverty.If majority of single mothers are only working part time and if wealth equals power, single women are limited in their access to power in society because they are unable to achieve power with minimal income. This demonstrates the income marginalisation of single mothers when compared to their anthropoid counterparts and the fact the single mothers are one of societys most underprivileged groups. According to a survey conducted by the Child Support effect in 2000, seventy five percent of the ninety one percent of single mothers were raising children on incomes below $20 000.Furthermore, these women were earning and average of $295. 00 per week, but research conducted by the University of Canberra found that the weekly cost of raising two children alone was $310. 00 CSA, 2000 University of Canberra, 2003. This proves that single mothers are earning less than basic living expenses require and are finding it incredibly difficult to survive, despite child support from the government, it is not sufficient for single mothers to live comfortably.In addition, if they are earning barely enough to support their children, it would be impossible to save any money to put towards possible housing ownership. This reinforces the argument that single mothers are increasingly disadvantaged by only having one source of income and that hinders their access to any privilege in society because they do not have any assets or savings fateed to garner a powerful status in society. Further statistics are proving that single parent families are at a disadvantage when it comes to income and child support.The Australian demonstrate of Family Studies research paper notes that forty one percent of single parents were receiving no child support, due to income deemed too high to be eligible and hours children spent in their custody were not enough. Of those who did receive it, over eighty percent got only one hundred dollars or less per week AFS, 2003. In addition, the surveys showed that a huge 89% of single parents were not satisfied with the government assistance they were receiving (refer to Figure 4) and believed the government did not provide enough funds for single parents.The key trend noted here is that even those receiving child support are still only receiving minimal amounts and a low income means their financial disadvantage is at an all time low. An average single parent family spends half its income on rent, household bills, and food while parents who are married spend under one third of the budget on these essentials, further highlighting the fact that mar ried parents do not face anywhere near the level of financial trouble that single parents do ACOSS, 2005.The expenses of raising a child do not decrease because one is a single parent, and these statistics are proving that single parent families are becoming financially marginalised because their inevitable low incomes are preventing them from living comfortably. This information has clearly distinguished the extreme disadvantages in terms of housing and income that single parents, and in particular, single mothers face. Single parents on the whole are earning far less than those who are married and as such, are disadvantaged in their ability to buy necessities and have any money remaining to put towards savings or other expenses.It is clear that single mothers are the most marginalised because majority of children in single parent families live with their mother and as such, single mothers must lessen their working hours to ensure that they are home to raise their children. It is clear that single parents with primary custody should be receiving more support from the government to compensate for their inability to work full time and government assistance should be provided with more reflection of the single parents situation. 3 Survey Evidence (Notes *all statistics and figures presented in this section are out of thirty participants surveyed. those who responded as being neer married were previously in a de facto relationship that had separated, and those without children in this category were omitted from the results. ) ? Of the single parents surveyed, 44% were male headed and 55% were female headed (Figure 1). The information presented in this report reinforces that single mothers are at a greater disadvantage than single fathers due to majority of single parent families being headed by women and their limitations in earning a high income because of family commitments, thus making them less likely to achieve any power or privileges in society. Of those who were living in rented accommodation, 87% were single parent families and 13% were married parents (Figure 2). This supports the argument that single parents are marginalised in their ability to afford a mortgage and their low incomes prevent them from being eligible for a home loan. ? Furthermore, of the single parents renting, 62% were single mothers and 38% were single fathers (Figure 3). Single mothers are marginalised in housing ownership because many experience discrimination when applying for a home loan and low incomes make housing ownership almost impossible. Married parents were earning a minimum of $45001 per annum, with 67% earning $75001 or more a year (Figure 5) Married parents have the ability to gain power in society because while one parent is raising the children, another can be out working full time and earning good money, which is a determining factor in ones level of power. Thus, wealth and power means greater privileges are rewarded and married couples are less restricted in achieving this than single parents are. 61% of single parent families were earning under $30000 per annum (Figure 5). This reinforces the fact that low income means limited access to power and privilege in society and wealth in a major disadvantage for single parent families. ? Furthermore, the single parents who were earning $45001 or more (2) were unsurprisingly men (Figure 6) Single fathers are less marginalised than single mothers because they have the capability and time to work longer hours and earn more due to most single parent families being headed by women. 74% of single fathers were working full time, compared to just 26% of single mothers (Figure 7) Single mothers are disadvantaged in their ability to work full time because they must be home to take care of their children, which limits the hours they can work. ? 70% of single parents had children enrolled in state schooling, while just 28% of married parents had children attending state schools (Figure 8). Married parents earn more can afford private schooling single parents earn less beginnert have financial opportunity to send children to private school therefore, they are marginalised in their access to education. 65% of married parents were unaware of the current government assistance scheme for parents, while 21% of married parents thought it was unfair and 14% thought it was fair or that single parents should be given focus (Figure 9). Married couples do not know what single parents are receiving from government and so, that may be preventing them from lobbying for the government to provide single parent families with more assistance. maybe meliorate education about government assistance should be given to harness stronger opinions from people. 61% of single parents were unsatisfied with the government assistance they were receiving, while 22% were satisfied with it and 17% were not entitled to it (Figure 10). Single parent families are at a disadvantage of only havin g one income, but are even more so marginalised because government assistance provided does not compensate for a second income it is only support. ? Single parents surveyed were not receiving anymore than $200 biweekly in Government Assistance.Despite being at an income disadvantage, single parents who are desperately in need still receive no more than $200 fortnightly which indicates the limitations they have to afford life essential, let alone save any money to afford to buy a house. 4 Survey results Diagrammed Figure 1 pic Figure 2 pic Figure 3 pic Figure 4 pic Figure 5 pic Figure 6 pic Figure 7 pic Figure 8 pic Figure 9 pic Figure 10 pic 5 Conflict and Functionalist Theories The Conflict and Functionalist theories are concepts developed by theorists looking for a way to describe levels of class in society.Each has key tenets that make them different and why one in particular may be a better explanation of single parent families and their marginalisation and disadvantage in soc iety, which leads to power and privilege shown towards them. 6 Functionalist Theory The Functionalist theory sees levels in society as a comparison to the human body. It sees the social system to be made up of different interconnected parts and if any of these organisms break down, the rest of society will malfunction.Functionalists approve of social order and view inequality as natural and necessary where everyone gets their due. In addition, they see social change as disruptive on the system unless it happens bit by bit and social stratification is useful in maintaining stability in society. It sees those with special talent as deserving of the social reward and privilege (wealth, power, prestige) but fails to explain the place of those in society where their social status is ascribed or inherited, and not achieved.As such, the Functionalist theory sees single parent families and the disadvantages they experience as necessary to maintain social order and believe they receive what their position in society is worthy of. Sociology Australian Connections. 2007 7 Conflict Theory The Conflict Theory originates from the opinions of Karl Marx who studied societies throughout history. Marx believed that social change emerges through the struggle and conflict being played out between social classes.The Conflict Theory sees social stratification as a result of groups becoming rich and powerful then preserving their own interests above those in lower classes. Conflict theorists view tension, hostility, competition and differences as a permanent and inevitable feature of societies. The key idea in the Conflict Theory is that social order is marked by conflict and maintained by force. It states that life chances are less for members of subordinate and incapacitated groups who have inferior opportunities, which in the case of single parents, is the limitations in income and housing that their situation has created.It is important to note that Conflict theorists do not see conflict as a negative force, more that it has many consequences convey about social change. Sociology New York, 1987 Sociology Themes and Perspectives, 2000. Of the two theories, the Conflict theory more suitably explains the disadvantage and marginalisation experienced by single parent families. The rising number of single parent families is due to their low level of income forcing them into a lower social class and as such, their level of class hinders their access to power in society.Due to their lack of power and marginalisation in comparison to married parents, the opportunities of single parents are limited to those that they can afford and find time for and it has proven to be a vicious cycle that is very difficult to break. The rising number of single parents and disadvantages they experience in comparison married parents has been an tailor for some time and so, as the Conflict theory states, these differences are bound to bring about change in the in store(predicat e). For these reasons, the Conflict Theory is a better explanation of single parent families.Conclusion Evaluation and Decision Making Single parent families are one of Australias most underprivileged and powerless groups. In particular, single mothers have shown to be the most disadvantaged group and experience the highest level of financial disadvantage and are most marginalised in their housing accessibility. Because most single parent families are headed by women, single mothers are limited in their access to power because it is a constant struggle to oddment earning an income with family duties.As such, single mothers do not receive the same privileges as married parents because they are restricted in their ability to earn a high income which limits the opportunities available to them. Single fathers have shown to be less disadvantaged than single mothers but still experience hardship in relation to home ownership. The research has proven that the disadvantage experienced by single parent families has shown no signs of improvement and married parents continue to have a much greater level of power and more privilege in society. As the Conflict theory states, when there is conflict between two groups in society single and married parents), it is destined to bring about social change. For that reason, the rising number of single parents in Australia is not necessarily a negative force, but one that is demonstrating the need for reform in the Government support and privileges that single parent families so desperately need. 1 Recommendations and Implications It can be seen from the primary and secondary sources of information that single parents experience the greatest disadvantage in their ability to work full time to earn a high income and their ability to purchase a home.Thus, it is recommended that the Government puts in place certain programs and funding to ensure that the marginalisation of single parents is decreased and that the equality between mar ried and single parents is made level. This can be achieved by providing single parents with child care grants that provide single parents with the opportunity to work full time without having the burden of child care costs. In addition, the government should provide single parents with grants to purchase a home to ensure that their single income does not restrict their access to home ownership.Furthermore, grants for everyday necessities such as groceries and supply should be provided so that single parents have a higher chance of being able to save money. Finally, the government should create some programs for single parents that give them advice on how to handle work and family duties and how they can save money even on a low income. These suggestions may cost taxpayers more money, but at the end of a day, if society wants to live in an egalitarian society, these are the first steps that must be taken in order to achieve this. Appendix Figure 11 pic Figure 12 pic Figure 13 pic B ibliography Article baseborn. (2008, October 21).Basic Requirements Needed to Receive a Mortgage. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from Article Base http//www. articlesbase. com/mortgage-articles/basic-requirements-needed-to-receive-a-mortgage-610898. html Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2007, August 7). 4102. 0 Australian Social Trends, 2007 . Retrieved May 10, 2010, from Australian Bureau of Statistics http//abs. gov. au/AUSSTATS/emailprotected nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/3550D34DA999401ECA25748E00126282? OpenDocument Australian Council of Social Service. (2005, September). Facts about single parent families and welfare. Retrieved May 9, 2010, from Australian Council of Social Service http//acoss. rg. au/images/uploads/294__info_380_sole_parents. pdf Australian Government. (2009). Your child support assessment. Retrieved April 29, 2010, from Child Support Agency http//www. csa. gov. au/ChildSupportFormula/yourChildSupportAssessment. aspx Burke, T. , & Hulse, K. (2002, May). Sole parents, social wellbeing and housing assistance. Retrieved May 12, 2010, from Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute http//www. csmc. org. au/? q=housingstress Commonwealth of Australia. (2004, March 11). A hand up not a hand out Renewing the fight against poverty. Retrieved April 28, 2010, from Parliament of Australia Senate http//www. ph. gov. au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04/poverty/report/ Jureidini, R. (2000). Sociology Australian connections. In R. Jureidini, Sociology Australian connections (pp. 83-86). New South Wales Allen & Unwin. Loxton, D. (2005). What future? The long term implications of Sole Motherhood for economic Wellbeing. Just Policy , 35. Princeton University. (2006). WordNet Search. Retrieved 9 May, 2010, from Princeton University . Princeton University. (2008). WordNet Search. Retrieved May 9, 2010, from Princeton University . SAULWICK, J. (2010, January 8). Henry Tax Review. Retrieved May 9, 2010, from Sydney Morning