In the last decade, the divorce rates have really gone up and also the rate of single people adopting kids. There has emerged a new socio-cultural revolution where attitudes have changed and a new social paradigm has been created. All this has resulted in single parenthood scenario.

People in this generation have begun to express their individuality and newfound sense of independence. This is especially evident in the metros and other major cities in the country. Earlier the society did not looked good upon people adopting single parenthood. Though single parenthood has existed before, society seems to be programmed to intervene and either get the person remarried or to remain single and childless. Today people are opting for single parenthood. It has become a matter of individual choice.

REASONS FOR SINGLE PARENTHOOD
1. Death of a spouse.
2. Divorce.
3. Extramarital pregnancy.
4. A new trend is to become a parent either through artificial insemination or by way of adoption.

Majority of single parents continue to be women. Women today are better equipped to deal with societal, familial and financial pressures, and many consciously seek to stay single.

There are some common misconceptions and myths surrounding single parents, especially if they happen to be women. Most of these are directed towards women - single fathers tend to draw a lot more sympathy. This is not to say the single fathers do not have to face challenges - it is just that they seem to have to deal with less.

SOME MISCONCEPTIONS & MYTHS WHICH IS OTHERWISE
1. A single parent home is a broken home, and the parents are to blame.

2. Single parents are not mature and stable people, as they don't think of the consequences their children will face. People don’t realize is that sometimes it is the healthiest choice that could be made for the child's sake. It is always desirable for a child to grow
up in an environment of peace.

3. Single parent families are aberrations, not the norm. Such families are not complete. This arises from gender stereotypes and the supposed roles of each parent. However, families are not rooted in gender roles. They are firmly entrenched in the ties and bonds that exist within it, as well as within a social network. Single-family homes are not deficient of these ties and bonds. In fact, in some single parent families the bonds are stronger.

4. Children from single parent families have emotional and behavioral problems and lack self esteem. Children from two-parent homes are just as prone to these problems as those from single-parent families. Problems arise from the nature of upbringing, not from the lack of a second parent. Single parents do have to put in more effort, but the results are often amazing and wonderful.

Single parenting is equally difficult than joint parenting and sometimes more tough.  It takes a special brand of courage to be a single parent.