Unwed Parents

* Why do we, as a society, cast such blame on the unwed mother? Just because she is so visible, as the one left holding the bag, so to speak, after a couple’s moment of indiscretion. I read, in this newspaper, about a young man, a 19-year-old gang member on his way to jail, who claimed to be the father of six children. Six children!

How many young women have had six babies by age 19? And we can only imagine how much support, financial or emotional, this prolific father is providing these six children. At least the poor, struggling unwed mother has made an attempt at facing up to her responsibility, however dismal, even--gasp!--going on welfare. It’s time we as a society concentrate on the real culprit of out of control procreation--the unwed father.

JOANNA RONCAGLIA

Irvine