Single Mothers

I used to have a very skewed view of single mothers. Especially coming from a conservative country like Ethiopia. if a woman becomes a single mother, she has brought shame and disrespect to her family at large. Often single mothers struggle to get housing, jobs and acceptance in society. 

Absolutely nothing happens to the father of the same kid. No change in status or job. Boys will be boys is the accepted excuse. 

The older I get, the more I realize that it is both men and women that perpetuate this discrimination. I was a part of that group. But I have changed my mind. I now have a lot of respect for women who are willing to take on that challenge despite the discrimination. Raising a child is hard even with two parents. But for a single mother, even in a country like the US, is a difficult task. 

There are many couples who stay together for the sake of the child but are actually raising their child as single parents. Most children can see through such an arrangement. Tom Bilyou from Impact theory is one such person. He and his wife decided not to have kids because he didn't want his children to be the reason he and his wife would be trapped together. Though that decision doesn't make sense to me personally, it is clear that his parents decision to stay together for his sake has affected him. 

Peace, love and respect are important things that I feel should be there for a child to grow up in a healthy environment. 

I am not a proponent of divorce or having kids that one can't afford to raise, but there needs to be a change in how single mother's are viewed and treated in society.