Senator Wants Law to Make Single Parenthood a Form of Child Abuse

March 2nd, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

When are republicans going to stay out of women’s wombs long enough to actually take care of things that need to be done?

Republican Senator Glenn Grothman of West Bend, WI, has sponsored a bill that would formally consider single parenthood a contributing factor to child abuse. Section 1. 48.982 (2) (g) 2. of Senate Bill 507 is amended to read:

Promote statewide educational and public awareness campaigns and materials for the purpose of developing public awareness of the problems of child abuse and neglect. In promoting those campaigns and materials, the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.

Section 2. 48.982 (2) (g) 4. of the statute is also amended to read:
48.982 (2) (g) 4. Disseminate information about the problems of and methods of preventing child abuse and neglect to the public and to organizations concerned with those problems. In disseminating that information, the board shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.

From reports on this outrageous law it’s not clear whether the Senator actually has any data to back up this claim, but my guess is no. As is often the case with outlandish legislation such as this, Sen. Grothman has a history of declaring a war on single parenthood. Last year, he proposed a conspiracy theory that single parenthood is all apart of a Democratic ploy for bigger government. He wrote that the:”Left and the social welfare establishment want children born out of wedlock because they are far more likely to be dependent on the government.”

While I’m no advocate for single parenthood, you can’t make that lifestyle a right or wrong issue. It’s about responsibility in some ways and for others evidence of a change in societal attitudes toward two-parent homes. Although according to Grothman, “the rise in single motherhood has been driven by all the great financial benefits single, low-income mothers receive.” So what should women do, have an abortion? Oh wait, you don’t want us to do that either.

This alleged link between child abuse and single parenthood is a slap in the face of single mothers (and fathers) everywhere who are handling their parental responsibilities. There are far better ways to discourage being a single parent.

Do you think this law has a chance of getting passed?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • Ferrellg45

    This is bull I am a single mom and never once have my child been neglected and her dad been gone sience day 1 and if this law passes there will be s many kids in the system witch also can cause abuse towards the child…..I hped this doesn’t pass

  • Babimommas10

    There are more than enough emotional boundaries that we are fighting to get through our day to lives. As a single mother I do not have the energy to add legal boundaries to that ready long list of responsibilities. It’s also just not the gov that helps support. The ppl wanting to make decision on OUR life, do not have to wake up every 2 hrs to feed. Worry about is someone going to harm my child while I’m away? I have to teach my daughter her letters, numbers and colors. At the same time while cooking dinner. I’m not looking to pity or approval, but I take good care of my daughter as a single parent.

  • Sophia

    First of all, this bill will never pass and I find it the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard. A law that makes single mothers/fathers a form of child abuse? Get real people! I am in no saying that raising a child in a single parent household is the greatest thing, but to say that it links to child abuse frankly is a slap in the face. Majority of the time, parents WANT to raise their children in a two parent household as a family. I mean not that many people that are wanting to start a family say to themselves “hmmm well it doesn’t matter if he/she is around when the baby comes because I’ll be here and that’s all that matters” be serious.Raising a child is an emotional/financial/physical commitment and responsibility. The child really does need both parents in their life. So for this Senator to assume that one parent is trying to cause more harm to the child(ren) is plain stupid, cruel, and wrong. I agree change the number of single parent households but this is NOT the way.

  • Bigyella27

    This is ridiculous! Single parenting child abuse….um, No! I am sure that their r different reasons as to why one is raising the child or children on their own. Death, divorce, prison, and or people just not being able to maintain a healthy releationship so they go their seperate ways, drugs, little boys not being mentally or finacially ready to face the challenges of being a parent, are just a few examples of why single parent families exsist and in know form or fashion is that abuse. If it is then abuse needs to be redefined.

  • http://www.facebook.com/MsVictoriaLMcDonald Victoria L. McDonald

    Im not sure why this bill is so outrageous? But then again, baby momma’s and baby daddy’s are more common and acceptable in the black community than husbands and wives. I hate that a white republican is sponsoring this bill, but i whole heartedly agree with this bill. No child asks to be born, nor do they deserve to not have a father or a mother in their lives. All children should have BOTH parents in their lives-and if a bill like this is passed maybe it will force women to be more responsible and critical of them men they sleep with, and force men to act like men and take responsibility. Introducing this law is not a slap in the face to single mothers, but being in a single parent home is a slap in the face to all those children. 

    • Badgurl_2801

      Well my son’s father is dead. So I don’t see how this will help anyone.

    • Sweet_pea_032000

      well i DO NOT AGREE WITH U AT ALL i am from a single parent home all i had was my and she everythingshe had to do to take of us because my dad beat her….. and now that I have a son and his dad is no where around because he have a new baby i have to do what i have to do to take care of him with all this said YOU AND HIM AND ANYONE ELSE WHO AGREE WITH THIS BILL CAN KISS MY A** AND F*** OFF!

  • wondertwin

    This is a complicated issue. I am as progressive as they come on most issues. Not conservative at all. But on single parenting I am firm. Single parenting sucks, for the children and parents. I did it after my divorce and before I remarried. I was fried.  Sure we survived but my son is MUCH better off with a father in the home. And I did not even struggle financially as a single parent. It’s not about the money.  Rather the time I could not spend with him because I am only one person.

    My mom raised me by herself and it only reinforces my feelings. She worked all hours trying to provide, trusted me around people she shouldn’t have, and so forth. I won’t bore you with the story since it’s been told many times over.  Black women should not have children by men who aren’t marriage material and qualified to help raise their offspring. Period. Sure there are onesy, twosy cases of widowhood and divorce.  But for the most part, it’s blatantant irresponsibility.  We need to do better and it shouldn’t take legislation as a wake up call.

  • FromUR2UB

    Someone should tell him, “Nonmarital parenthood would include single parenting as the result of divorce or widowhood, Stupid!”  

    For a political party that is always talking about eliminating waste in government, a lot of its members sure like to waste time, money and resources on pointless controversy.  If it actually became a law, then I guess single parents and guardians would all be arrested for their “crime”, then what would they do with all the unsupervised kids?  Or, maybe the goal is to fine the parents, to generate revenue?

    I swear….hateful folks.

  • Dereka

    My father was a dingle parent when I was 15 because my mother passed away due to cancer. I became pregnant at 21 and I am now a single parent. I worked my butt off trying to raise my son by myself. I became injured and incapable of working so yes right now I have to use the system. I take care of my son as best as I can. Some people over use the system. I wish that I could work but physically for me its impossible at the moment because I’m “too young” for the surgery I need. I work in my sons class and I do what is in his best interest. I dont think this bill will pass.

  • 2amordst

    So many thoughts right now.

  • Neechikat

    Oops I should have proofread before I entered, but you get the gist…….

  • Neechikat

    The idiot that introduced this bill probably had intentions on targeting poor blacks but moore and more professional women of ALL races and creeds are deciding to have children w/o the presence of the father. And that would invitro, for which they actually pay to begin their journey into parenthood. And what about those single persons amnion choose to adopt?

  • Latoyab4

    After reading some of the comments, I agree. Will CPS come for the children? So they can abuse them,emotionaly by taking them from their mom, or worst by now having a solid place to put them. We as the citizens of the USA have the rights to create a bill ourselves. Lets generate one that will not allow Congress to to take women back to 1922

  • Man

     I think they have a valid point the child is neglected in some sort of way by not having both parents in the same house just look at the current status of the black american household its terrible but a law should not be passed for it but he is right on the part of the single parent lifestyle has alot of benefits to single women and if they require that both parents spend an equal amout of time with kids every week this would not be as such but the truth of the matter is something needs to happen whether its with the community or just pick the right man or woman next time and wait to have kids and be more responsible

    • WOMAN

      Quite frankly as a black woman more often than not it is the culture that these children are being raised in rather than the fact that a mother is a single parent or not. If you are raising children in “hood” culture you are going to have “hood” kids (for the most part, there are exceptions). There are many people who simply should not have children, single or not!

  • Latoyab4

    I’m not a very political person, but I’m a little hot about this. Instead of attempting to destroy and control the people’s life that pays your salary, why not do your reallll job and find a solution to end hunger in America. Its child abuse when you send relief packages to other countries before you feed the children in American. Why don’t he change the National Anthem. Well as of now I’m apart of “The home of the free and the brave ” and I’m brave enough to tell him mind his own business.

  • Rah Truth

    Well then I guess most Black women will be going to jail then…smh.

  • Sgp_spider_06

    Id like to ask a ? On this bill if a marine or what ever service member dies does that mean cps will take the kids away.single parent homes happen for more then one reason this senator makes bush look like a genius

  • Lsking08

    All I have to say is I WAS RAISED MY A SINGLE PARENT AND I AM NOW 27 YEARS OLD AND I NOR MY MOTHER HAS EVER BEEN APART OF THE “SYSTEM”. Meaning never received section 8, food stamps, welfare, or anything like it.

    • wondertwin

      That’s not the point. Too often, blacks equate the not having a prison record, never being on food stamps, and not dropping out of high school as proof of success.  We were never on government assistance either. My mom was a registered nurse and put me through private school. Still, I missed not having a dad!  I vowed not to do the same thing to my child.  Two parents is ideal.All the evidence you care to look at proves that. 

      Just because blacks are “sick” of people “bashing” single parents does not change the facts that single parent households are hurting our community.

  • Msmykimoto2u

    We all know who this this bill is “truly” supposed to be aimed at….

  • mel

    yeah.  my mom really enjoyed the free government cheese benefit. 

  • Pingback: Why do white men seem to be less attracted to black women? | Attract Pheromones

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