[AvadaKedavra]

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/...0115-2crh2.html


Do people really still believe this sort of drivel? I know Fairfax is hardly left leaning, but this seems quite ridiculously conservative for any modern sensibilities....

[kiam]

I would love to see the sources he used for this article, mainly because I bet there really isn't a whole lot of research into what percentage of single mothers receiving the dole are dating men who want to prey on said single mother's teenage daughter.

[EBeditor]

It is frightening that some people think like that. I was very offended. I am sure Fairfax will publish a rebuttal by another person, it is just one man's opinion.

The fact that no mention was made of single fathers -or fathers in general, was just bizarre!

[karen_tim_black]

I'm pretty sur J Hirst is the 'black armband view of Indigenous Australian history' guy, so loved by J howard and friends. He's an irritant.
Google him - you know you want to.

[bettymm]

I am hoping and praying that the wonderful, selfless, hardworking single mothers I know do not have the misfortune of reading this article. How disgusting

[kay11]

Correlation does not equal causation.

[EssentialBludger]

I'm sure we all know someone who abuses the system, abuses their children and caught in a cycle of generational poverty. I think it's the exception rather than the rule though.

I was also pretty offended. I was a single parent at 16. My daughter is 8 now and I think I'm an excellent parent. I work and in a few days I will be a home owner. My kids want for nothing.

Single parent doesn't = deadbeat. Teenage parent doesn't = deadbeat. I really hate the stereotype.

[Matthias' mum]

So offensive. And what was the focus on boyfriends all about?

[123tree]

OMG I can't believe that drivel.

I am also astonished that the only way a woman can develop self esteem is to work so that she can be more discriminating about her boyfriends. This astounds me for two reasons.

(1) As someone who has worked a lot in manufacturing which employs a lot of unskilled labour (and not all single mums are unskilled). I have seen people belittled by their managers, offered family destroying rotating shifts and minimum pay rates that I would find difficult to support a child on as a single person when before and after school care is taken into consideration.

(2) I feel good about myself in my life as my worth as a good mother, good friend, good global citizen, and competent in many areas of my personal life. I am smart, strong and brave. I cannot imagine where I got this idea from as a SAHM.

I must have missed this "cookie cutter" single mother cliche in my life as the only single mums i know are good mums and good women.

[AvadaKedavra]

I just wanted to say that I do hope that this is not a source of angst to all the single mothers on this forum. I posted it to express surprise that anyone at all would think like this because I genuinely think that this must be a rarity. I hope you all know that most of the world (I hope) is in solidarity with you.