The U.S. has experienced a dramatic increase in births to unmarried women in recent decadesfrom 4% of births in 1950, with most of the babies then adopted, to more than 30% today. Melissa Ludtke's book is the only in-depth analysis of this radical change in family formation to compare and contrast the lives of these mothers of varying ages and economic circumstances.
Melissa Ludtkeis a journalist. While researching and writingOn Our Ownshe had fellowships at Harvard, Radcliffe, and the Columbia School of Journalism.
Ludtke brings the voices of women having children on their own into a public debate from which these voices have been conspicuously absent. Interweaving their voices with her own savvy and intuitive commentary, she has written a vitally important book. Carol Gilligan, author ofIn a Different Voice
Prologue
1. My Story: Decision-making About Unmarried Motherhood
2. Unmarried Motherhood: A Half-Century of Change
3. Having a Baby: Unmarried Adolescent Mothers
4. Having a Baby: Unmarried Older Mothers
5. Raising Children: Unmarried Adolescent Mothers
6. Raising Children: Unmarried Older Mothers
7. Where's Daddy? Unmarried Adolescent Mothers
8. Where's Daddy? Unmarried Okler Mothers
9. Unmarried Mothers: Who We Are and Where We're Headed
Afterword
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Index
![On Our Own: Unmarried Motherhood in America [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/8/6/2/2_1467469.jpg "On Our Own: Unmarried Motherhood in America [Paperback]")