KQED's Forum ‘Inherited Inequality’ Challenges the Idea That Two-Parent Homes Are Key to Kids’ Success
Sep 23, 2025
Christina Cross, an associate professor of sociology at Harvard University and author of "Inherited Inequality," delves into the misconceptions surrounding family structure and racial inequality. She challenges the notion that two-parent households are solely responsible for children's success, highlighting systemic issues like discrimination in housing and education. Cross discusses how the Moynihan Report shaped policies that unfairly target Black families and emphasizes the significant role of income in opportunity gaps. Her insights reveal the necessity of a broader understanding of family dynamics in addressing racial disparities.
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Moynihan Report Shaped The Narrative
- The Moynihan Report framed Black poverty as a family-structure problem and argued for reinstating a male breadwinner model.
- That narrative shaped policy and public thinking for decades despite sidelining structural causes.
Welfare Funds Often Promote Marriage
- TANF and related policies embedded marriage-promotion goals into welfare reform, redirecting substantial funds.
- Black families seeking assistance were often steered to marriage services rather than cash aid.
Two-Parent Status Is Not A Universal Equalizer
- Two-parent households generally associate with better outcomes, but researchers rarely examine Black two-parent families specifically.
- Christina Cross finds Black children in two-parent homes still lag far behind white peers in the same family structure.
