From: falcao@felix.Metaphor.COM (Ronnie Falcao)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Two-parent family not the best
Date: 12 Apr 92 18:49:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: agate.sa0n5INNrgr
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu
Originator: muffy@remarque.berkeley.edu

Previously, Jim Kalb wrote:

> . . . My point is that in the absence of something like the
> traditional family the circumstances would be much less favorable to
> raising children well.  Some people would, of course, triumph over
> circumstances.

Well, this seems like a good time to review the book,
"The Two-Parent Family Is Not The Best" by
June Stephenson.

The book is a fairly academic report on a survey of
adults who were raised in a variety of circumstances:
by biological parents, single parents and biological/step
parents.  It evaluates both their perceptions of their
happiness as children and a more objective evaluation
of their current status as happy, well-adjusted adults.
It presents extensive statistical reporting and analysis
of the results of the survey.

The major conclusion is sort of given away by the title,
so you may not be surprised to hear that the researchers
concluded that "There is no one group which stands out
as being the best family situation for raising children."

"This survey indicates that, contrary to a long-held belief,
the two parent family is not the best family for children.
. . . There are indications . . . that the family situation
with two parents, while sometimes very good, was, also,
just as often, not good at all.  This does not say that the
results concerning the biological parents group are wholly
negative.  But it does say that this group, which has always
been thought to be the best family combination for raising
children, appears to provide no clear advantage."

Some interesting points:

Children in a two-parent family were more likely to have
a parent who used alcohol excessively (with implied
negative effects) and who abused them physically or
sexually.

"Negative impact on children's self-esteem was affected
by parents not spending much time with their children,
and greatly affected by persistent family discord."

It appears that a child is better off with a single,
interested parent than with one interested and one
disinterested parent.

"There are also indications that children growing up in
two parent families where the mother does not work outside
the home, may develop excessive dependency."

"A family with a father and a mother who does not work
outside the home represents only 8% of the families today."

The book ends with a couple of short essays on
"What Is A Mother?" and "What Is A Father" in which
Dr. Stephenson argues that the traits often associated
with a parent of one gender or the other can easily
be learned and exercised by anyone, regardless of
gender, who is sincerely interested in their child's
welfare.

Although I found the book a little heavy on the
survey and statistics, it's an excellent book to
have in my library.  The short essays are well
worth reading.

	- Ronnie

Ronnie Falcao, Metaphor Computer Systems, Mountain View, CA
falcao@metaphor.com


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