Source Entry #3
RQ: How does a single-parent household affect child development? What are the pros and cons of a single-parent household?
Part 1: MLA Citation
Williamson, Chris. “The Terrifying Impact of Single-Parent Households – Melissa Kearney | Modern Wisdom 689.” YouTube, 5 Oct. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRjMnH-4cYo
Part 2: Summary
The episode, “Melissa Kearney- The Terrifying Impact of Single-Parent Households,” hosted by Chris Williamson, features an interview with economist, Melissa Kearney, discussing her book, “The Two Parent Advantage.” Kearney argues that the decline in marriage and the rise of single-parent households is a significant social issue, impacting not just low-income families but also college-educated ones. She highlights “two-parent privilege” where college-educated families benefit from more resources due to having two parents in the home. Kearney emphasizes the positive outcomes for children raised in two-parent households, including higher incomes, better school performance, and lower crime rates. She points out the particularly negative impact of father absence on boys. The decline in marriage, according to Kearney, contributes to widening inequality and declining birth rates. The video explores the role of social norms and economic factors in this trend. Kearney advocates for interventions to address the decline in marriage and the rise in single-parent households, emphasizing the need for economic support for men and a restoration of the social norm of two-parent families.
Part 3: Rhetorical Analysis
The genre of this video, “Melissa Kearney – The Terrifying Impact of Single-Parent Households,” is a podcast. The primary audience is single parents. The author’s writing style, tone, and attitude are informative and objective. Melissa Kearney uses ethos by citing numerous studies and research findings. Kearney uses logos by presenting data and statistics to support her claims about the negative consequences of single-parent households on children’s outcomes and societal well-being. Kearney uses pathos by sharing personal anecdotes, like her experience at her son’s graduation, to connect with the audience on an emotional level and evoke empathy for the challenges faced by single parents. Chris Williamson is credible as the host of Modern Wisdom because it has been viewed over 400 million times. He also has had over 100+ NYT best selling authors on his platform. Melissa Kearney is credible because she has written the book, “The Two Parent Advantage. The currency of this podcast is recent since it was released on October 5th, 2023.
Part 4: Notable Quotes
“It is really counterproductive and actually not at all helpful or empathetic to deny that hey, it’s hard to parent alone.” (17:28)
“It’s just a lie frankly to suggest that any parent, any household structure, is equally likely to be able to deliver a high level of resources to kids.” (21:55)
“I am confident that we can both acknowledge the benefits of a two-parent household, work to promote a higher share of kids having the benefit of a two-parent household…without retreating to the terrible stigmatization that our country used to have about single mothers.” (1:22:17)
