Single fathers, though not as recognized as the single mother in the popular imagination, (largely due to the fact that single mothers far exceed single fathers in numbers) are out there. And they are growing in ever increasing numbers.
However, despite the fact that single mothers out-number single fathers, it turns out that among the single fathers that are out there, they out-earn single mothers, reports Livestrong.
According to the Census Bureau data:
The 2010 Census showed that single male parent households earned an average of $49,839 per year, while single female parent households earned an average of $33,370 per year. About 44 percent of single fathers earned more than $50,000 per year in 2009.
One explanation for why single fathers may be out-earning single mothers has to do with the fact that single fathers are more likely to have someone living with them than single mothers. About 33 percent of single fathers have another adult at home; while only about 11 percent of single mothers do. This makes child care and thus work attendence and performance that much easier.
No doubt, at this point, the discussion could move to the bigger question of employment and equal compensation for men versus women in the United States. Nor do the single father statistics reveal the simple question of willingness and capability. Empirically speaking, are single fathers just as interested as a single mother in being the full-time provider as well as the full-time parent? These are questions the data does not get into.
But whatever way you slice the single father statistics, the fact remains that where a child has two parents, it is important for both parents to be involved in the child's life. Whichever parent is deemed custodial should work with the non-custodial parent in coming up with a workable visitation plan so that a child can have the benefit of two parents who are involved both financially and emotionally.
Sometimes working out such a plan is tricky due to history or different finances. In those cases, it is best to retain an attorney to help sort the issue out. And the first thing to do is not to think in terms of "single fathers versus single mothers" but to put an "and" in there for the benefit of the child.
Related Resources:
- Find a Houston Family Law attorney (FindLaw)
- Fathers Raising Daughters: The Unique Challenges of Single Fatherhood (Education.com)
- Visitation Rights (FindLaw's LawBrain)
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