Social scientists perform modest, incomplete and ideologically motivated studies and assure us of the unimportance of traditional approaches to families and child rearing. We then use such arguments to liberate ourselves from responsibility and hard work. We can divorce and not worry about the effect on children and communities. A common consequence of divorce is a single mother. We were told that single mothers could raise well-adjusted children, and indeed they can.
Some single mothers make heroic efforts on behalf of their children.
But a society dominated by such families is dysfunctional. Before we charge off and embrace the assurances of social scientists, we should consider the value of past advice.