Several years ago, a particularly violent and bloody incident occurred in Chicago. In response to this event, then-mayor Rahm Emanuel stated: “This may not be politically correct, but I know the power of faith and family… Our children need this kind of power… I ask… that we not shy away, that we fully discuss the importance of faith and family in nurturing and shaping children’s character, self-esteem, value system, and moral compass, helping them distinguish right from wrong.”
Mayor Emanuel’s public call for a broader discussion indicates that there must be something truly amiss. Recently, Dr. Nicholas Zill, a senior researcher and psychologist at the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) based in Virginia, published an article titled “In Cities Where Single Parenting Is The Norm, Child Poverty And Violent Crime Are High” (10/14/2024). His research indicates that the situation for children raised in single-parent households is indeed more severe.
In his study, Dr. Zill found that in cities in Ohio where single-parent families are prevalent, the crime rates are significantly higher. For example, in Springfield, Ohio, only 44% of mothers entered into marriage from 2018 to 2022. Cleveland had an even lower rate at 33%, while Youngstown reported only 32% of mothers married. Cincinnati fared slightly better at 46%.
In contrast, Cleveland Heights showed a higher rate with 63% of mothers married, and New Albany had an impressive 91% of mothers married.
The differences in violent crime rates in these cities are also surprising. In Springfield, there were 1298 violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents, while Cleveland had 1895, Cincinnati had 800, and Youngstown had 699. In contrast, Cleveland Heights reported only 267 such incidents, and New Albany had just 99.
The issue of father absence in families has been known to lead to an increase in incarceration rates, as documented over the past 20 years. A study by Cynthia Harper from the University of California San Francisco and Sara S. McLanahan from Princeton University published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence in 2004 highlighted that young people growing up in fatherless households were twice as likely to end up in prison as those from traditional two-parent families.
Clearly, over the past two decades, the number of single-parent households in our country has only been on the rise.
Today, nonmarital childbearing is prevalent across all demographics. In 2022, 39.8% of children were born to single mothers. In states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Mexico, this percentage surpasses 48%.
The issue of father absence not only negatively impacts urban development but also has a significant effect on the overall societal development. While single mothers can be great caregivers, as Mayor Emanuel pointed out in his research, some crucial elements necessary for children’s emotional and psychological development are missing in single-parent households.
Notably, the unique role fathers play in a child’s life is paramount. For instance, girls who lose their fathers often struggle with severe depression, self-destructive behaviors, or promiscuity as they try to fill the emotional void left by their absent fathers.
On the other hand, as documented in studies on the connection between lack of two-parent households and violent crime, boys without fatherly love often respond to emotional emptiness with anger and aggression. Hence, many tragedies we have witnessed in recent years, such as shootings or abuse of women, have been initiated by boys from broken families.
Furthermore, Dr. Nicholas Zill also wrote an article for IFS titled “Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, And Crime More Common In Disrupted Families” (3/24/2015), indicating that children from single-parent households are more prone to drug abuse than those from stable two-parent families. These children grow into adults and carry their drug dependency into their own families, perpetuating a cycle of dysfunction, substance abuse, and single-parent households which ensnares the next generation. This triple blow leads each generation into a vicious cycle of despair.
Thus, a societal divide is established, with the line between rich and poor predetermined early in life. Children born into stable two-parent households are more likely to succeed in the future, avoiding violent and substance abuse-related choices. Conversely, those born into a perpetuating cycle of unstable broken homes are likely to become victims of the pathological environment created therein.
This is why, if we truly aim to address the violence issue in urban centers, we must first focus on the behaviors that lead to violence. This means restoring traditional two-parent families rather than continuing to overlook this issue through policies that encourage broken families. It is my hope that efforts in this direction will not only make children healthier but also make society as a whole safer and healthier.