Iowan Says Employers See Single Mothers as 'Liability'

While searching for a job over the last few months, Maylene Gonzalez had two strikes against her: she had spent time in prison and she was a single mother.

“Being a single mom is another door or obstacle that you have to overcome because they see single parents as a liability,” Gonzalez said. “OK, so what happens if your child gets sick? You’re responsible because you don’t have anyone else. Well, that’s just reality and that is life.”

The 39-year-old Fairbanks, Iowa, resident takes exception to the trope that everyone who receives unemployment benefits or other government assistance is lazy or that they don’t want to work.

“How are we supposed to live if companies decide we’re not going to hire single mothers or single parents because they’re a liability?” she asked. “Without a job, we cannot support our children and then we get talked down upon because we receive food stamps or housing, like, ‘Hey lazy, get off your asses and go get a job!’”

Read more: https://iowastartingline.com/2021/07/19/iowan-says-employers-see-single-mothers-as-liability/