African American Single Mothers - Understanding Their Lives and Families

The African American single-parent family has tended to be a scapegoat for a variety of social problems, ranging from poverty to drug abuse. As a result, there exists much misinformation about this family form. In this collection, the African American matriarchal family is re-evaluated to present a more informed picture of its actual structure and functioning.

From an Afrocentric feminist perspective, contributors examine the history, legal dilemmas, media images and religious values of these families. The roles of children, grandparents, fathers, other support figures and the government are reviewed. This insider view of these households concludes with suggestions of more effective and sensitive policy approaches to this type of family unit.

List of contents

Introduction - Bette J Dickerson
Centering Studies of African American Single Mothers and Their Families - Bette J Dickerson
Female-Headed Households in Sociohistorical Perspective - Norma J Burgess
Women¿s Life-Affirming Morals and the Cultural Unity of African Peoples - Annie Ruth Leslie
Teenaged Mothers - Sharon Elise
A Sense of Self
Single Parenting - Dhyana Ziegler
A Visual Analysis
The Impact of the Law on Single Mothers and the `Innocent¿ - Willa Mae Hemmons
African American Children in Single-Mother Families - Suzanne M Randolph
The Role of the Grandmother in Poor Single-Mother Families and Households - Susan M George and Bette J Dickerson
Gender, Poverty, Culture and Economy - Rose M Brewer
Theorizing Female-Led Families
Empowerment Through the `Ordinary¿ Knowledge/Scholarship/Policy Nexus - Bette J Dickerson, Philipia L Hillman and Johanna E Foster

Product details

• Authors: Bette J Dickerson, Bette J. Dickerson
• Assisted by: Bette J Dickerson (Editor), Bette J. Dickerson (Editor)
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 06.04.1995
• EAN: 9780803949126
• ISBN: 978-0-8039-4912-6
• No. of pages: 232
• Series: Sage Series on Race & Ethnic R; SAGE Series on Race and Ethnic Relations; Sage Race and Ethnic Relations
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family; Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Lifestyle, personal development; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories