UNWED MOTHERS - Record numbers

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OG Note: "Unwed birth rates were highest for black women, with 69.1 percent of births to black women occurring out of wedlock, compared with 42.2 percent for Hispanics and 22.1 percent for non-Hispanic whites." Yes, folks, that's 7 of 10 babies born to blacks, 4 of 10 born to Hispanics, and 2 of 10 born to whites. The article says rates have risen for Hispanics and whites. Oh really? Not by much! I remember researching these numbers 15 years ago and they were about the same--Hispanics were closer to 3 of 10, though. What does this tell you? Did I hear someone say, "Cincinnati!"? Who said, "Jesse"? Who said "Clinton"? Remember these numbers do not include those children who were born inside marriage but whose fathers took off and disappeared.

April 18, 2001

Unwed mothers set a record for births

By Cheryl Wetzstein, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

A record 1.3 million babies were born out of wedlock in 1999, marking the first time that a full one-third of all U.S. births were to unwed mothers, the federal government said yesterday.

The increases are the result of demographic changes and an increasing tolerance for couples to have children without marrying, said analysts.

The 1999 data also demonstrate that the number of unwed births hasnīt declined, despite high hopes associated with the 1996 welfare reform law, which made curbing illegitimacy a primary goal.

A major reason unwed births have hit a new high is that the number of single women who are of child-bearing age has also grown, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) said in its final report on 1999 birth data, released yesterday.

"Most of the 4 percent increase in the number since 1997 is due to the concurrent 3 percent growth in the population of unmarried women," said the NCHS report.

There is also a lack of national and political willpower to tackle illegitimacy, said Heritage Foundation analyst Robert Rector.

"The greatest failure of welfare reform is that the governors have grievously neglected the issue of marriage," said Mr. Rector, adding that only four governors, including President Bush during his the governorship of Texas, have promoted marriage in any way.

"The sole reason that welfare exists is the collapse of marriage," Mr. Rector said. "It is a huge national tragedy that this country spends $1,000 subsidizing single parenthood for every $1 it spends trying to promote marriage and prevent illegitimacy."

"Itīs true there is not leadership at the state level or in local communities in reducing rates of nonmarital childbearing, except among teen-agers," said Kristin A. Moore, president of Child Trends Inc., a nonprofit research group.

"Itīs also true that weīre not sitting on a set of tried and true demonstration projects that would suggest how states and localities might do this," she said.

One of the problems of addressing unwed childbearing is that the American people typically view teen childbearing and nonmarital childbearing as one and the same, Mrs. Moore said. But most unwed mothers are in their 20s, and a program that tries to discourage pregnancies among unmarried adult couples has to be "very different" from one aimed at high school students, she said. Without models to guide local leaders regarding unwed childbearing by adults, "theyīve been reluctant to intervene."

Yet another reason for the high unwed birthrate is the rise in cohabitation, added Jennifer Manlove, a senior researcher at Child Trends. "Fertility trends have been fairly consistent over time, but what is changing is marriage," she said. Couples are delaying marriage, but not delaying childbearing. In 1999, according to the NCHS, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Servicesī Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

* Out of 3,959,417 births, 1,308,560 were to unwed mothers, the highest number ever recorded. This compares with 1,293,567 unwed births in 1998 and 1,257,444 unwed births in 1997.

* Unwed birth rates were highest for black women, with 69.1 percent of births to black women occurring out of wedlock, compared with 42.2 percent for Hispanics and 22.1 percent for non-Hispanic whites. However, the report noted, while the percentage of unwed births has declined slightly for blacks in recent years, that percentage has increased for whites and Hispanics. * The birthrate for single women rose to 44.4 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44 years old. In 1998, the birthrate was 44.3 births per 1,000 fertile women. The highest unwed birthrate was 46.9 births per 1,000 fertile women in 1994. * Thirty-three percent of all births were out of wedlock. This is a slight increase from the past five years, which saw an average 32.4 percent of births out of wedlock.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2001

Answers

I meant to stress that there are women who have children outside marriage and are able to provide a loving and supportive environment for their child through family, hard work and perhaps some luck. I can only admire those women. But those who have more than one illegitimate child and proceed to sit on their fat butts and collect AFDC and anything else they can connive while their young children are dropping rocks off freeway overpasses at two in the morning, well, that's a different story.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2001

When I was in my mid twenties, I wanted a child so bad. I thought of having one then, and even talked to my mother about it. I could make up my mind to hire a father-doner or go to a sperm bank.

My mother talked me out of it, as 'proper' people didn't do such things. I could have provided a wonderful upbringing for my son, and money would not have been a factor. So please don't think that all single parents fit that mold.

Sometimes now, as I reflect, I sort of wish that I had gone ahead with what I wanted to do. I do have a son now, but wish that I could have more. I guess I waited to late, cause due to my complications the doctor told me to never try again.

Oh well...

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2001


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