Commentary
Several years ago, following a weekend of extreme violence in Chicago, then-Mayor Rahm Emmanuel,
stated: “This may not be politically correct, but I know the power of what faith and family can do. … Our kids need that structure. … I am asking … that we don’t shy away from a full discussion about the importance of faith and family to develop and nurture character, self-respect, a value system, and a moral compass that allows kids to know good from bad and right from wrong.”
Emmanuel’s call for a broader dialogue suggests that something is seriously wrong. And indeed, a recent
study conducted by Nicholas Zill for the Institute for Family Studies confirms this.
Examining cities in Ohio, Zill discovered a correlation between a lower crime rate and a higher percentage of two-parent families. For example, only 44 percent of mothers in Springfield, Ohio, were married during the 2018–2022 period. The numbers were even lower in Cleveland with only 33 percent married, and in Youngstown, where only 32 percent were married. Cincinnati had a slightly higher rate at 46 percent.
In contrast, Cleveland Heights had 63 percent of mothers married, and in New Albany, Ohio, a striking 91 percent were.
The disparity between these cities and their violent crime rates is striking. Zill found that Springfield reported 1,298 incidents of violent crime per 100,000 residents, 1,895 in Cleveland, 800 in Cincinnati, and 699 in Youngstown. Meanwhile, Cleveland Heights had only 267 incidents and New Albany reported 99.
This correlation is not surprising. Research has consistently shown how the increase in fatherless households has led to a corresponding rise in incarceration rates. Twenty years ago, Cynthia Harper of the University of Pennsylvania and Sara S. McLanahan of Princeton University
discovered that young men raised in fatherless homes are twice as likely to end up in jail compared to those from traditional two-parent families.
The prevalence of single-parent homes has only worsened since then.
Out-of-wedlock births are now common across all demographics. In
2022, 39.8 percent of children were born to single mothers. In states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Mexico, the
percentage exceeds 48 percent.
The absence of fathers is particularly acute in urban areas but has far-reaching implications for society as a whole. While single mothers can provide excellent care, as Emmanuel pointed out, there is a missing element in a single-parent household—something essential for children’s emotional and psychological well-being.
What is missing is the unique role that a father plays in a child’s life.
For example,
girls without fathers often experience severe depression, self-destructive behavior, or risky sexual activity as they try to fill the emotional void left by an absent father.
Boys, on the other hand, as evidenced by this study on the connection between single-parent homes and violent crime, tend to manifest that void through anger and aggression. Consequently, many of the tragic shootings and acts of violence against women we have witnessed in recent years have been carried out by boys from broken families.
Moreover, numerous
studies have demonstrated that children in single-parent households are more likely to engage in substance abuse than those in stable, two-parent (mother and father) households. These children grow up to become adults who bring their substance dependencies with them, perpetuating a cycle of family dysfunction, drug abuse, and single parenthood. It is a harmful cycle leading to a downward spiral of despair with each successive generation.
Consequently, society is divided early on between those born into stable, two-parent families who are more likely to succeed and avoid negative choices like violence and substance abuse, and those born into the instability of a cycle of broken families who are more susceptible to these pathologies.
Therefore, to address the current violence in our inner cities effectively, we must prioritize addressing the behaviors that have contributed to this violence—which means actively working to restore two-parent families instead of perpetuating policies that encourage broken homes. This is my aspiration—and the outcome of such efforts will not only be healthier children but also a safer and more prosperous society.
The views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
