Final answer:
Single parenthood increases a young woman's risk of poverty due to factors such as the wage gap and the poverty trap. Governments should design antipoverty programs to support single mothers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The risk of poverty increases for young women in single parenthood due to a combination of factors. One major factor is the wage gap, where women historically have been relegated to lower-paid jobs. The inequality in the workplace, coupled with the rise in female-headed households, has led to the phenomenon known as the "feminization of poverty." Single mothers, particularly minority women and those in isolated rural areas, often face difficulties in securing well-paying jobs and struggle to provide for their children.
Another reason is the poverty trap that working single mothers find themselves in. In addition to the challenges of finding suitable employment, they also face extra expenses like clothing, transportation, and child care that nonworking mothers do not have. These additional costs make the economic gains from working smaller, and the lack of job experience and contacts further hinders future employment opportunities. To address the issue, it is important for governments to design antipoverty programs that provide support and resources specifically tailored to the needs of single mothers.