I moved out of my house when I turned eighteen, during my senior year of high school. Three months later, I became pregnant. This is when I first experienced discrimination. I had to work full time, and go to school. I only had nine more credits for my honors diploma, but I could not obtain it, because of discrimination against young soon to be mothers. My school made me take parenting classes that are required for pregnant teenagers, becaus

I also get discrimination from employers. One experience, in particular, was a waitress position at a Chi Chi's restaurant. I was only twenty-one at the time, but I have waited tables off and on since I was fifteen. The interview went well, until the manager asked for my hobbies and extra-curricular activities. I said that I usually take my child to the park, or do something with her in my free time. He asked me who would be watching my child while I worked. I said that my roommate would watch her. I should have known the question was an invasion of privacy, and I should not have answered it. He then told me he was looking for someone without children, because baby-sitters are not reliable, and he needed someone who could be flexible to come in as needed. If I would have known that it is illegal to not hire someone that has children, I would have sued the restaurant, or gotten the manager fired.

Most people that have children know that it is a struggle to raise kids on only one income, but with a proper budget, it can be accomplished. The government and press make big issues of single parents, because of their financial situations and strain on the budget. Not every single parent is on welfare, as the government and press try to make it seem. In fact, not many single parents I know are on welfare. Married couples face financial difficulties too, but they do not tell that to the public. What is the difference between a one-income home of a married couple, and a single parent's income? Is there actually a difference between them?

In conclusion, single parents receive injustice by discrimination on almost a daily basis. I have experienced so many instances of it myself, I could probably write a book about them. Many people in society cannot look past the "taboo" of being single parents. Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna are single parents raising children. Society accepts them to raise children on their own, because they are celebrities. Why is it wrong for an average person to be a single parent? Should society be the one to decide

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Chi Chi's, O'Donnell Madonna, single parents, single parent, parenting classes, government press, successful parent, paying cash, grocery store, deserves discrimination, honors diploma, food stamps,
Approximate Word count = 1393
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)