Negative Perceptions of Never-Married Custodial Single Mothers and Fathers: Applications of a Gender Analysis for Family Therapists

Abstract

In this study the authors examined perceptions of the negative attributes of never-married, custodial, single mothers and fathers and applied a feminist framework to determine what gender-based differences existed in these perceptions. Data were collected from 769 participants who were randomly assigned to answer questions about single mothers or fathers. The results of the thematic analysis suggested that participants' perceptions of single mothers and fathers varied primarily by the gender of the single parent. The results also suggested that the negative attributes assigned to single mothers were primarily personal in nature while the negative perceptions of single fathers appeared to be more situational.

Keywords:

• negative perceptions of single parents
• gender
• feminist thematic analysis
• never-married custodial single mothers and fathers
• binary essentialist framework of gender
• perceived negative attributes of single mothers and fathers
• idealized family structure
• mother-blaming