The Unmarried Mother: A Study of Three Cases at Angel Guardian Home, Brooklyn, New York, Showing the Detrimental Effects of Inadequate Family Relationships, From I960 Through 1962
Abstract
Background of The Study. The problem of unmarried motherhood is as old as mankind, and while it has been viewed with varied attitudes throughout the ages, the unmarried mother and her child have been consistently condemned by society. With the spread of Christianity, which emphasized the sanctity of the home and considered marriage the foundation of the family - the basic unit of society - drastic punishment was imposed upon anyone who threatened the security of that structure. The unmarried mother was forced to openly confess her sin before the church congregation. She was whipped, placed in stocks, or imprisoned, in addition to being ostracized by the community; the general attitude being that she was a menace to the security of the family, having challenged the established order of society, and must, therefore, be punished for violating the moral code. The child was also looked down upon and discriminated against because he was considered not only the confirmation but, also, the punishment for her "sin".
Subject Area
Social work|Social research|Social studies education|Religion
Recommended Citation
Ianora, Amalia Margerita, "The Unmarried Mother: A Study of Three Cases at Angel Guardian Home, Brooklyn, New York, Showing the Detrimental Effects of Inadequate Family Relationships, From I960 Through 1962" (1964). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30725031.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30725031
