Summary:
Recently a new book called ‘Sinners?Scroungers?Saints?Unmarried Motherhood in the 20-Century England’ by research professor in Contemporary History Pat Thane was published. Maureen Paton, a columnist of The Independent decided after reading the book she wanted to find out more about her own history. She was a child of an unmarried woman in the 1950s. When her mother died she found her birth certificate. She did some investigation and discovered she was born in a hostel for unmarried mothers. Most unmarried pregnant women in the 1950s had to give away their babies for adoption. An unmarried mother was not socially acceptable.
Opinion:
It is such a disgrace that unmarried pregnant women were treated like dirt. To force someone to give away her baby is extremely cruel. Besides, many women could not get a proper house because they were alone and not a member of a British family unit. It took until the 1977 Housing Act that unmarried women could get a council flat. Luckily, many adopted children have traced their biological mum. They often say they immediately felt a bond because they had the same features and mannerisms. Despite the fact that many mums were so glad to get in contact with their child, they still grieved for the loss of their baby. Society was unnecessary harsh and inhuman towards pregnant unmarried women.
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