HW 2 : Social Problems of Children

Filipinos are said to be conservative people since then, but in today's generation Filipino people tend to be liberated. And because of that, a lot of things are going on today that was never heard before. Just like being a single parent households which are scattered all over the world. So we can’t say that it is because of a specific culture or a certain economic status. Rich or poor,there are a lot of single parents are out there. But as I have mentioned in all my blog posts since I started, single parent households have effects on children. Aside from psychological effects a lone family is bringing to child's growth, another issue is social problems.

The word sociable is commonly attributed to a person who is willing to talk an engage in activities with other people. And being sociable is I think the most appropriate attribute that is being described  among children. They are very playful, have lots of friends, and their behavior are mostly naughty. However, not all children are sociable enough because they are kind of timid. And behind this timidity on socializing with their friends always have the reason. Well, I think one of the reasons is the stigma they're experiencing being in a single parent household.

Moreover, because of early pregnancy among teenagers nowadays, many children are usually fatherless that may lead them to have enough self-esteem and antisocial behavior. Why? Maybe because they are seeking an attention that their mother cannot give just like a father. Another thing is, maybe they felt being neglected on their family. Because of these reasons, they tend to harm themselves like smoking, being addicted to drugs, deliquency, violence, sexual activity, and worse suicidal attempts.

As I had continued surfing and looking for articles to prove my opinions about this matter, I came across this article entitled Absent fathers are fueling drug addiction, antisocial behavior and crime among young people which talks about the greater risk of children on the family who are fatherless.

This article states that a children growing up in fatherless families tends to lack self-esteem and might do criminal activity. It also shows statistics that, Fatherless young people are 80.3% more likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour, 76.4% more likely to take part in crime, and 69.1% more likely to use take drugs.

Apart from that, it also says there that "Young people are struggling to find a sense of purpose within their families, schools, and community , and believe that peers provide them with what they need." They are thinking that only their comrades will help and understand their situations. Because of this misconception, they do not even think that their friends are good influence or not. Some of them might continue to engage antisocial behaviors that they may use as a form of protection against the problems children are experiencing.

Although youngsters might learn with their experiences in life of being a part of a single parent household that they are aspiring of becoming a better parents someday to their children, their dream may not come true because they often lacked the essential parenting skills needed.

Here in the Philippines, I could see that these problems on children are arising in the society. And  we cannot deny the fact that these are not impossible. Families here in our country are also becoming on the modern aspect and view of a family which is unavoidable.

Single parents experience social issues because they might be thinking that they are different among other families and they are not accepted in the norm. However, the stigma of having only one parent existing in the family greatly affects the children's social life and behavior.