Uribe 1

Brian Uribe
Professor Bieber
English 115 Honors
27 October 2015
Single Mothers Summary
In the article To Beat Odds, Poor Single Moms Need Wide Safety Net Pam Fessler, an NPR
correspondent, reports of the adversity single mothers face both financially and psychologically.
Fessler gathered statistics on single mothers in the nation (14 million) and honed in on the
poorest city in America, Reading Pennsylvania (41% poverty rate). Fessler pointed out how
single mothers were four times likely to be poor than a married couple and the likeliness that
children who grew up in poor families would become poor adults. Fessler conducted a field
report in Reading and had the opportunity to speak with Jennifer Stapp, mother of three, three
different fathers, which she supports them through $9 an hour working full time as a head
assistant at a daycare center. Fessler mentioned that single mothers needed not only government
programs but also support groups and self-determination to stay afloat. Fessler found out through
Jennifer that she fell victim to youthful optimism, thought the next relationships would be better
and would last. Jennifer had told Fessler that her plan was to receive an associates and then a
bachelors to open up opportunities for her children. Fessler spoke with the director of community
engagement, Isamac Figueroa, who brought up that the typical student was a single mother and
that her goal was to make college possible for those in disadvantaged positions similar to
Jennifer. Jennifer concluded her time with Fessler by bringing into light that some dont have the
strength or perseverance to support themselves, They try hard, its just not hard enough.