Final answer:
The true statement is that about one in three single parent families headed by women live below the poverty line. This is part of the 'feminization of poverty,' which indicates that women, particularly single mothers, disproportionately comprise the majority of individuals in poverty, a trend that has persisted for decades. The correct option is 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is true is: 1) About one in three single parent families that are headed by women live below the poverty line. This fact relates to the concept of the feminization of poverty, which refers to the increase in the number and percentage of women among the nation's poor, particularly due to the rise in female-headed households and the tendency for these single mothers and their children to live below the poverty line.
In contrast, the second statement regarding the 'feminization of poverty' describing greater government protection for women below the poverty line than men is false.
The term feminization of poverty was coined by sociologist Diana Pearce in 1978 to describe this growing phenomenon. Throughout the 1990s, while the overall poverty rate was rising, especially in peripheral nations, the rate of impoverishment increased for women nearly 20 percent more than for men.
This situation highlights the disparity between men and women in terms of poverty rates, with an especially dire impact on single mothers and their children.
In the United States, women constitute approximately 56 percent of Americans living in poverty, and single mothers are particularly susceptible to economic hardship. The wage gap and higher costs of childcare for single mothers contribute to this situation.
These conditions have led to a lower standard of living for women, especially those who are single heads of household, compared to their male counterparts, whether married or single.