I usually enjoy reading her articles but this morning she has left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
She has written her views on a new £100,000 statue unveiled in Birmingham by artist Gillian Wearing of a 'Typical British Family.'
Amanda comments:
(The statue) '...shows two single mothers holding hands with their young sons, with one if the women heavily pregnant with her second child - but not a father in sight. Based on real life sisters Roma and Emma Jones.'
Well Amanda, what is your idea of a 'Typical British family?'
A mother, Father and their 2 beautiful, well spoken children, who live in bliss as they are all together as a 'family?'
Sorry but we don't all live in the dark ages anymore. We live in a diverse world full of single parents, gay parents and the 'lucky ones' who are still the assumed 'typical family.'
Here is a thought, maybe the Father is not in the statue because he has not bothered to stick around and has left these women to look after their children single handedly?
I am not writing this because I don't need a man because I'm a 'feminist' and this statue is a 'totem.' I am writing this as a single parent who is gob smacked that Amanda Platell has the audacity to tar all single parents with the same brush.
She attempts to redeem herself and writes,
'There are of course many single mothers, who whether by choice or circumstance, work incredibly hard to raise their children in demanding circumstances.'
But even that paragraph riles me when she said 2 words,
'By choice.'
So if I chose not to be with my useless ex boyfriend who drank and hurt me, then I deserve to be looked down on by society for 'choosing' to be a single mother because I kicked him out?
Amanda then writes,
'Research shows children raised in a home without a father figure present are more likely to suffer poor health, do badly at school and fall into crime or drugs.'
Which completely obliterates the understanding she tried to show in her previous paragraph.
'A single mum is far more likely to rely on benefits and thus beholden to the state for her income and well being.'
I was on benefits for 2 years after I had my daughter. I had worked since I was 16 got pregnant at 19 and was then made redundant while I was pregnant.
I tried to find a job but with the cost of childcare and trying to find a job which I could work my hours around my child care was impossible. So unfortunately I did have to rely on the state for a while. I wasn't proud but it was a means to an end and I had no 'choice.'
Now my daughter is at school I work full time and I sometimes work from 8.30 am until 8pm to make sure I can pay all of my bills and take care of my child.
Instead of generalising single parents for relying on benefits, why don't we do more to help them?
Why doesn't the government help make childcare more affordable and work hours more flexible to suit single parents?
We should appreciate that there are single parents out in the world who put in 12 hour days and work 2 jobs to put food on the table for their children as well as single parents who are stuck on benefits.
I put a proposal to you Amanda Platell....
Instead of sitting comfortably behind your computer screen, why don't you come spend the day with us single parents before you comment on who we are and how our kids may turn out. A day in the life of a single parent to see what we are really like and how hard we work whether it is 9-5 or not.
Amanda says 'the left' put single parents on a pedestal but her article is not about politics, it is utter rubbish. Whether right or left this article is just plain wrong.
The statue is the reality of the world we live in, I am a single parent and I am damn proud.
Sorry if my article is not perfect but I have a 4 year old running around my feet screaming and I have to figure out a way to keep her off drugs, ensure she does not suffer poor health and fall into crime.
It's exhausting being a single parent but I love it.
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