Cultural Variations in Marriage and Familypopulation will experience homelessness
each year (The Urban Institute, 2000;
Webster & Bishaw, 2007).
The most common type of family in
poverty is the female-headed family which
led to the terms feminization of poverty
and juvenilization of poverty back in the
1970s. Even when a woman works full-
time, she often does not earn enough to
support her family without outside
assistance (see Figure 11.2). While the
gender poverty gap remains large, it has
been decreasing and is now about 40%.
Almost 1 in every 8 women is poor,
compared with 1 in 11 men (DeNavas,
Proctor, & Smith, 2007).
The Disability Challenge
Families with disabled members face
special challenges. Often a family
member’s disability requires unusual
physical, social, or emotional
accommodations involving the entire
family’s support. While these challenges
can bring families closer together, they can
also drive them apart. The divorce rate is
higher in marriages which are
unexpectedly faced with a disabled family
member. Domestic violence is higher
among families with special-needs
children (Knox & Schacht, 1999).
Many additional frustrations come
with caring for family members who are
considered “different” by outsiders. Stares
and unwelcome whispers accompany
disabled persons who participate in
normal public family activities, such as
eating at a restaurant, playing at a park, or
even attending church. The family, by
association, may experience
discrimination—called “disability by
association” (Burke, 2008). As a result,
families with disabled members can
become socially isolated, which often
produces stress within the family.
For their own emotional well-being
and the well-being of other family
members, those who care for a special-
needs person occasionally need time away
from their responsibilities. If no one steps
forward to offer respite care, the caregiver
can feel overwhelmed and trapped.Parents of special-needs children can feel
overwhelmed and trapped without respite care.© Jupiter Images