But compared to men, more women and children are poor in the United States. Children under 18 make up about 40 percent of the country's poor, yet are only 18 percent of the population. In Oregon, the trends are the same-single mothers and their children tend to account for an excessive number of the poor. Thirty percent of court-ordered child support was not paid in Oregon in 1998. Divorce rates rose from the 1950s to the 1970s, as did the number of single mothers choosing to raise children alone, explained Clara Pratt, OSU professor of family studies, and Sally Bowman, OSU Extension family development specialist.
Single mothers carry a huge financial burden compared to two-parent households.
Single mothers and their families have extra barriers to economic success, according to Pratt and Bowman. Single moms bear the brunt of the financial burden for their children. Since women generally have custody of the children, they end up paying for most of their support, including childcare. Single mothers are not always able to work as much as they need to. They often give up some employment opportunities in order to care for their kids.