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Documentary - From Separation to Solidarity: Single Mothers in Memphis

28 images Created 17 Jan 2013

Despite the crushing load that single mothers carry, they are one of the most demonized demographics in the U.S.

In Memphis, single mothers who receive any sort of government assistance are often described as “welfare queens” even though, according to a USDA report only ten percent of all single mothers receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. TANF benefit levels for a family of three who qualify equal less than half of the Federal Poverty Level in all states.

Furthermore, when single mothers work, they are additionally stereotyped as neglectful parents whose children will end up career criminals as a result of neglect. Surprisingly, according to the Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, the single mother poverty rate in the U.S. is far above the average in high income countries, although the single mother employment rate in the U.S. is also above the average. Less generous income support programs in the U.S. are one explanation of the high poverty rate for single mother families. It appears that the current system of support for single mothers in this country is woefully insufficient and mishandled. Instead of being studied and restructured in meaningful ways, it is consistently used as a polarizing argument against government entitlement spending.

As a result of the tremendous amount of negativity surrounding the issue of single motherhood, I decided to approach the subject on my own through a photography documentary. I began following and photographing the life of one single mother in the spring of 2012, and then expanded the project to include two additional single-mother families in the fall of 2012.

This ongoing series of photographs is intended to show the daily lives of these single mothers in order to invoke recognition of their similarities to all mothers, along with understanding and empathy from the viewer of the strengths and weaknesses that these single mothers possess within the challenging situations they face. I intend to show the good, the bad, the successes and the mistakes in their journeys. We all face challenges in our own lives, and part of how we react to them defines our character. My hope is that newfound empathy with these mothers’ lives will give people some pause before they condemn single mothers when discussing issues such as welfare and other politically charged hot buttons.

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  • Nathaniel with Llama
  • Timothy attempts to work out his aim during their weekly homeschool bowling league game.
    Timothy Swing Bowling
  • Able to leap buildings in a single bound, Karin demonstrates her Super Mom strength to twin sons, Timothy and Nathaniel after bowling.
    Super Mom
  • I am Iron Man.
  • During the drive home from school, Carla feeds her baby sister Digna while her younger sister Jocelyn watches. Sept. 2012
    Feeding Baby Sister
  • Maria washes daughter Jocelyn's hair while Carla rinses the shampoo out of her own hair. Sept. 2012
    Hair Washing Assembly Line
  • Jocelyn teases her sister Carla by playing hard-to-get with her underwear while Maria applies post-shower lotion. Jan. 2013
    I've got her Undies!
  • Maria watches as baby Digna plays quietly in her bassinet after everyone else is in bed for the night. Jan. 2013
    It is Sleep Time
  • Mother and daughters all piled in the big bed together.
    Morning with the Girls.
  • Maria administers a breathing treatment on her baby girl.
    Breathing Treatment
  • While the pile of clean laundry for six people has grown, sick Maria takes a break as two of her daughters play on their own. Jan. 2013
    DVDs Take Me Away
  • Diana, attempts to spell the word given to her in Round 2 of the Memphis-Shelby County Spelling Bee. Unfortunately she struck out with this one, and was eliminated from the competition. Good job though, Diana!
    Diana at the Spelling Bee
  • Maria as Cat in the Hat on Halloween
  • Single mother, Elise, prepares a bottle for her youngest daughter, Harper, while on the phone first thing in the morning. May 2012
    Morning Multi-Tasking
  • Elise's eldest daughter, Chandler, takes sister, Harper, out of her mom's room where she had been pulling sheets off the bed.
    You can't be in there.
  • Harper, celebrating her third birthday, and her grandmother enjoy cake from her birthday party.
    Cake for Two
  • Shameka combs and styles her daughter Deanna's hair, while her son, Dalen, is quizzed on his homework by neighbor and friend, Lafreda. Sept. 2012
    Nightly rituals.
  • Single mother, Shameka, sorts through laundry after a full day at work.
    Laundry Day is Every Day
  • A neighborhood teen hugs Shameka while she cleans a pair of sneakers. Sept. 2012
    Thanks for the Dinner!
  • Deanna and her brother, Dalen, say their prayers before bed. Sept. 2012
    Bedtime Prayers
  • Deanna had to get her mother Shameka to sign off on her school progress report before returning it to her teacher. Oct. 2012
    School Progress Report
  • Deanna and friend search for the curlers her mother, Shameka, asked her to find.
    Finding Curlers
  • Deanna was more engrossed in watching Family Feud on television than in going to sleep for the night.
    Insomnia TV
  • Deanna lurks around the corner while her mother, Shameka, cleans the bathroom.
    Not Helping in the Bathroom
  • While she did not have any money to spend on shopping, Shameka and daughter, Deanna, were able to have a little free fun at the mall while their neighbor, Lafreda, exchanged a past purchase.
    Window Shopping
  • Shameka watches her son at his basketball game. His team ended up losing their first game of the season to a team who had their first win of the season.
    Cheering at the Basketball Game
  • Shameka kisses her son, Dalen, before her neighbor takes him to school, and she goes back inside to get ready for work. Oct. 2012
    Off to School Kiss
  • Shameka celebrates her birthday with the early young crowd, older guests arrived later.
    Happy BIrthday Shameka
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Amie Vanderford Photography

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