Let's lose the labels

Until the government lose the individualist perspective we will never be treated fairly and welfare reforms which have been against single parents since the late 1970's will remain to marginalise this group of exceptional people. My example of bias and labelling comes from David Cameron himself after last summer's riots he declared the need to eradicate certain groups from society including members such as repeat criminals, looters, drug dealers AND FATHERLESS CHILDREN..... Ooh I was furious by such a sweeping statement. Just wondering when my 2 kids will be eradicated???

Hi, I've only just joined this community although I've been a single parent for almost 15 years to 3 wonderful young people. I find it so sad that this sort of campaign is still necessary in our culture, but recognise that there is a lot of judging and prejudice about single parenting by those who have no idea what they're talking about. There are many reasons why people find themselves as single parents, and I am sure that the majority would prefer not to be in this situation, but we can't always choose. When I became a single parent, I gained new understanding and respect for the many others who have gone before me along this road and seek to share my experience with others. I have been met with a lot of ignorance and media-influenced attitudes, so am glad that this campaign is highlighting issues that are faced by so many.

I'm a single mum of 3. Ages 12yrs, 2yrs and 1yr. It's always been difficult, but more recently I have been on the recieving end of an awful lot of nastiness. We've all heard the comments of "if you can't afford your children you shouldn't have had them", "you have ruined your childrens lives" etc etc. In the recent months we have been told our children are 9 times more likely to be criminals, that we have no 'family values' and many new policies and reforms are going to hit us the hardest. The stereotypes are out in full force and it irritates me enormously. I have had to sit my 12yr old daughter down and explain it all to her. If she is appalled by it why isn't everyone else? I would have loved to stay married but unfortunately my ex husband was a violent abusive bully. I would have loved to have stayed with my ex partner (father to my youngest 2) but I won't be used as a doormat and taken advantage of financially and emotionally. I also wont allow my children to witness daily hostility in their home. Even so I am now classed as immoral, selfish, lazy and uncaring. Its time it stopped, Not for us, for our children because they are the ones suffering the most because of this ignorance.

As a single mum of 1, I was pitied as "oh, poor you. It must be tough for you." As a single mum of 5, I'm accused of kicking the dads out, so I can have the kids all to myself. This is not the case. My kids have Autism - another reason I'm told I 'should have stopped after #1. Many people feel they can comment on my family, although they don't allow me the same courtesy. Single parents do a very good job under a great deal of pressure which other families can't even comprehend. A standing ovation for all of us.

Having just watched this video,ironically I have just picked up my mail and in large capital letters inside the envelope reads "LONE PARENT INTERVIEW" from my local job centre. I don't know about anybody else but I hate being branded as a lone parent. The term makes me feel like its an illness/disability when its clearly not. I am the only parent my Son has and its been that way since I was 6 weeks pregnant but I see myself as My little Boys Mother certainly not a stigma like "Lone parent" has become. I think that the term makes us sound like sad, lonely,lazy, individuals who are good for nothing useless mothers who have nothing better to do other than "spongeing off state" and dragging our Children up! Its also saying to me that apart from our Children we have nothing and nobody else in our llives whatsoever as I quote us "lonely parents" are beneath everybody else. Where's the equality in that? Sorry about that but those words annoy me. Rant is now over!

I loved this video!! But I hear this kind of language in the media every day. Last week on the morning slot 'Thought for Today' on Radio 4, there was a man talking about 'failed marriages' due to the 'sexual recklessness' of my generation of parents and how it is the children, 'the vulnerable' that suffer. I actually cannot believe this kind of prejudicial comment is still allowed peak air time in this day and age. I would like to see more public action maybe a march along the lines of Pride in the gay and lesbian community but for single parents? A group demonstration that we are not ground down by this stuff (no matter how much we are!)